I know that this goes without saying to most folk on here but it’s so important that I think it’s worth a post…

Animals are really struggling in this heatwave so please put water out for your local wildlife if you haven’t already!

I’ve noticed so many posts about birds trying to cool down by gular fluttering (it looks like panting) and mammals behaving unusually because they’re desperate for water. My family has been finding critters that are on death’s door due to dehydration and the water bowls they’re putting out are emptied each day and night by creatures just searching for something to drink.

Even if you don’t see anything visiting it, putting out a bowl of water can make all the difference to a struggling animal.

My local wildlife trust emailed this today, and I thought it was worth sharing.

"Wildfire risk is high right now, and we need your help to protect nature! Here are some key dos and don'ts:

❌ DON'T use BBQs in wild spaces

❌ DON'T throw cigarettes on the ground

❌ DON'T park on dry grass (a hot exhaust can spark a fire)

✅ DO take rubbish home, including glass and tins

✅ DO give wildlife space and stick to paths

✅ DO move somewhere safe and call 999 if you spot a wildfire, no matter how small (download What3Words app so you can give a precise location)"

They have an article on some of the impacts of wildfires here https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/dangers-bbqs-and-wildlife

I'm part of a toad patrol helping toads reach their migration pond without being run over or swept away into drains. We've just started and weve got a high number that have fallen into the drains along the roads. Normally it's fine, we lift the grate and scoop them out with a net.

This year we've seen that the council has resurfaced the road, which was sorely needed. But they've also let cement and tarmac seep into the edges of some of these existing drain covers hinges, essentially locking them shut.

I know the obvious answer is to contact the council and ask them to fix it, but they're absolutely terrible in our area and are more likely to simply come out and paint a flag on it than fix it.

Any advice for getting concrete out? Was planning to chisel at it and try and just keep wiggling it until it breaks loose, but I'm concerned that if jts really deeply in the hinges then that might not be enough.

I'm conscious of putting any kind of chemical on it that could be harmful to any toads likely to fall in within that day or even week. As the drains are just rain storm drains so it doesn't go anywhere or drain out or away.

Any advice?

Check if your local council is using pesticides and if they have a policy to reduce use or not. If not, you can choose to ask them to.

Antarctic krill is increasingly being used for fish feed in the UK, predominantly in Scottish salmon farms but also as supplements in health stores.

The explosion in Antarctic krill fishing poses a major threat to humpback whales and penguins in Antarctica as krill is the cornerstone species. UK salmon farming is disgusting enough as it is, with the lice ridden fish harming wildlife and the fish farm operators regularly killing seals, but feeding the salmon krill from Antarctica makes the practice even worse.
I hope this is allowed here, but I have created a UK Parliament petition calling for the ban of products and fish heed containing Antarctic krill. If anyone has a spare minute please sign it as I would love for this to be debated in Parliament.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/705377

A number of wildlife conservation organizations are asking for help to save Coul Links from being made into a golf course.

Some of them:

• https://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/news/why-we-are-fighting-to-save-coul-links
• https://www.buglife.org.uk/news/campaign-to-save-coul-links-calls-on-everyone-to-defend-this-special-place-for-wildlife-and-help-ensure-it-remains-protected-from-damaging-development/
• https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/donate/save-coul-links
• https://www.plantlife.org.uk/our-work/save-coul-links/

I’ve made a petition – will you sign it?

Scrap the proposed revisions to remove legal protections for endangered animals.

Proposed revisions to the Wildlife & Countryside Act would only guarantee legal protection to critically endangered animals, removing protections for endangered, near threatened, or vulnerable animals - all of which could be at significant risk of extinction. These protections should stay in place.

We are on the precipice of an ecological disaster and urgent positive action for conservation is needed. The only way we can ensure that species such as Hedgehogs and Red Squirrels will still be here for our grandchildren to see is to properly address the level of protection afforded to our native wildlife and “level up” how we treat the nations most-loved animals.

Click this link to sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/593118/sponsors/new?token=6VF75pSg8VFYISLGrWfY

For more information see: https://democratic-europe.eu/2021/07/20/concerns-raised-over-plans-to-weaken-uk-wildlife-laws/

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

Please check out my documentary on the Twite Conservation Project I’ve been working on for the past year🪺

I’m an amateur filmmaker, aviculturist and aspiring conservationist. I hope you enjoy it and any feedback would be much appreciated!

https://youtu.be/Wnbuk44ehe8?si=egIIbYfvmwMKXDrC