Creating Water Sources in Your Garden

Support Bees, Pollinators, and Wildlife

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Garden Water Sources

Water is essential for the survival of all wildlife, including bees and pollinators, yet many gardens often overlook the need to provide a water source. Many gardens focus on providing food through nectar, and shelter through natural areas or bee hotels, but relatively few also provide water sources.

You don’t need to undertake digging a pond or adding fountains and large water features, there are many simple and easy ways to provide water for your pollinators that also look nice and don’t take up too much space.

Adding in these small water sources can have a big impact on your garden, by increasing biodiversity and encouraging pollinators to visit your garden, as well as providing water for birds and other wildlife during the hottest parts of the year.

Why Water Is Crucial for Pollinators and Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators need water for hydration just like any other animals, especially during hot weather or dry seasons. They don’t get enough fluids from nectar alone, and need a reliable water source, especially in the summer when they may become dehydrated. Bees rely on water to regulate their body temperature and carry it back to their nests.

Other wildlife will also benefit from the water source, such as birds, frogs and toads, all of which are great for controlling slug and snail populations naturally. It will provide a place for bathing as well as drinking, particularly in the summer when some natural water sources may have dried up.

Adding a water sources attract a variety of beneficial wildlife, contributing to the overall biodiversity of your garden and creating a healthier, more balanced ecosystem.

Types of Water Sources to Include in Your Garden

Shallow Puddling Areas:

Shallow puddling areas are ideal for bees and butterflies, which need water to drink but cannot access deep water sources. You can easily create a shallow puddling areas with a shallow water tray or dish that is filled with rocks and pebbles. The rocks and pebbles give bees and butterflies a safe place to land, and ensure no point in the water is too deep and provide lots of dry spots to safely drink from. Puddling areas are extremely easy to create and look nice too with decorative rocks. These shallow puddling areas are great for solitary bees, and will encourage them to nest in or nearby to your garden, which they will in turn help to pollinate. Keeping them at ground level will ensure they’re accessible to other wildlife like hedgehogs and frogs too.

Birdbaths:

Birdbaths as an excellent water source for a wide variety of wildlife, including birds and small mammals. It gives birds a safe place to drink as well as bathe, and can provide an aesthetic focal point on lawns or patios. Look for a birdbath with a shallow edge so smaller birds and pollinators can drink from the sides. If the birdbath is deeper towards the middle, you can also add some decorative rocks or pebbles to add some extra landing points for smaller birds.

Water Features (Ponds, Fountains, or Streams):

Adding a pond or small stream adds a dynamic water element to your garden while supporting various wildlife, and are particularly good for frogs and toads. Frogs and toads need water for breeding and feeding, and provide shelter for them to live in the damp spaces around the pond. Frogs and toads are excellent garden helpers, as they will happily control the slug and snail population for you, protecting your garden from pests. You can include a small fountain or cascade to create movement and aerate the water, which can attract more wildlife as well as keep the water cleaner and healthier.

Designing Water Sources with Wildlife Safety in Mind

It’s important to include water in your garden in a way that is safe for you, your kids, pets and wildlife.

Focus on providing shallow and accessible water, you don’t need to have deep water in your garden in order to help out the wildlife – shallower water sources like the puddling ponds are completely safe, and can be used by a variety of wildlife, including bees and butterflies.

Avoid drowning hazards by including safe points for wildlife to drink from, such as rocks, pebbles, or floating plants to help animals and insects safely access the water.

It’s also important to keep your water source clean by changing it regularly and ensuring there’s no standing stagnant water, which can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria or mosquitoes and midges.

Consider the best place to place your water source. We recommend placing water features near flowering plants or in shaded areas to attract wildlife and make the water more inviting, and helps to keep it cooler in the summer months.

Maintenance Tips for Water Sources in Your Garden

Regular Water Changes: Change the water regularly and clean birdbaths and water features regularly to prevent algae growth and ensure the water remains fresh.
Ensure No Standing Water: Ensure there’s no standing water that could become a breeding ground for midges. If using a pond or fountain, consider adding a circulating pump to keep the water moving.
Seasonal Care: In colder climates and through the summer, try to make sure your water source doesn’t freeze over, so that there’s some water available for the wildlife to drink.
Monitoring Wildlife Activity: Observe your water source to see which species are visiting and adjust the design if needed (e.g., adding more rocks or providing more shallow areas if it is not being used by smaller wildlife).

Take a look around your garden and see if it’s providing food, shelter and water. If your garden provides all three, it will become a haven for pollinators and help support local wildlife too. These simple water sources have a big impact in encouraging wildlife and bees, and the more pollinator friendly your garden becomes, the better it will bloom in turn!