Gardeners across Britain have been warned not to trim hedges in July to avoid breaking the law. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally damage, destroy, or disturb an active bird's nest while it is being built or in use.
Expert Advice
Gardening expert Joe Swift, writing in the Radio Times, emphasised the importance of waiting until after 31 August to trim hedges. He said: “Hedges are an important resource for birds. It’s sometimes hard to spot them, but they might be nesting in them right now, and it’s illegal to disturb an active nest. In general, leave it till after 31 August to trim back – and always check for nests first.”
Attracting Birds with Water
A TikTok user known as The Floral Gardener shared a hack to attract birds: water. She stated: "Want birds in your garden? Forget the seed. This works better and it's free." She added: "It's frustrating when you're making so much effort and putting out food for them, and putting bird boxes up and they're still not coming. This is what works. Water. Give birds multiple water sources and they will flock to your gardens." The Floral Gardener noted that water allows birds to drink, bathe, and cool down, especially during heatwaves.
Upcoming Heatwave
The Met Office has warned of a potential heatwave next week, with temperatures approaching 30°C in parts of southeast England. Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson said: "The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20s°C across parts of England, perhaps 30°C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20s°C in Wales. Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low."
