Litter Bugs

Source.

 

Happy August :)

 

How does a picnic in the park sound?

It's a beautiful time of year and certainly worth making the most of.  On the downside, I have noticed that our local park contains so much more litter due to people sitting out in the sun and having picnics, it is really disheartening to see.  Did you know that annually the RSPCA receives over 7,000 phone calls about incidents relating to litter and that RSPCA officers regularly rescue animals trapped or hurt by litter?  7,000 is just the tip of the iceberg as many wild animals hurt by litter are never discovered.

RSPCA have listed some of the preventable incidents dealt with here.

How to help:

This is easy... dispose responsibly!  

Recycle and re-use when you can.

If you are enjoying a picnic, please make sure you take your rubbish home with you and put it in the bin.

If you come across any litter in parks or areas where there a wild animals please pick it up and dispose of it safely.

Keep a look out for the plastic can holders which can be lethal to animals, there are so many of them around and it is important that you cut them up before disposing of them in the rubbish.

RSPCA have a useful guide showing particularly dangerous litter and how to dispose of it safely.

Please remember to share this information with your friends and family, thank you.

Happy Summer!

Do one thing for birds this summer

Each month I receive a newsletter from BBC Breathing Places and this month my attention was drawn to an article about helping birds find water during the hot summer months (if we are lucky enough to have a hot summer).

Birds tend to eat dry meals (like seeds) so desperately need water to wash their food down. Most small birds need to drink at least twice a day as well as using water to bathe and preen to keep feathers in good condition.

Why not provide a safe place in your garden (if you have one) for birds to have a drink and a bath? You can make one yourself using a water tight shallow container, if you put pebbles in the bottom it will stop the birds from slipping and help to vary the depth of the water a bit. For safety maybe add a little ramp to help the birds get in and out.

You can also buy a bird bath to put on the ground or hang off the wall, birds will be wary of bright colours so if you do this then choose natural colours. If you buy a bird bath to stand on the ground then it is best to make sure it is up high on a pedestal to ensure birds keep safe from prowling cats (Rusty included, she is obsessed with birds). A hanging bird bath would be even better.

When you put your bird bath outside make sure it is in a shady place, close to the trees, to stop the sun evaporating the water quickly and also make sure the bird can have a 360 degree view whilst on the bath to check for predators. A tip for deterring cats is to plant some prickly shrubs near the bath as that would make an uncomfortable place for cats to lie in wait. Remember to keep the bath topped up with clean, fresh water and if you can give it a clean every few weeks with boiling water.

In the winter time it is an idea to put something like a small ball in the bath to stop the water icing over.

If you don't have a garden but have a balcony instead you can buy a hanging bird bath and use a bracket to secure it. If you don't have the funds a seed tray, or a plant pot saucer will work too. Remember to add a ramp to help the birds get in and out.

Picture and information taken from BBC Breathing Places