Garden Water Safety for Children, Pets, Birds, and Wildlife
A garden may feel safe, but water is everywhere – buckets, water butts, paddling pools, wheelbarrows after rain, bird baths, ponds and pools. Take a morning or afternoon to walk through your garden at ‘ground level’ (like toddlers, pets and wildlife) to secure or pack away hidden water hazards.
Even plant saucers and tarps that sag can be drowning hazards, as can outdoor taps that form large puddles, if dripping.
Buckets, barrels, watering cans, water butts
Store away buckets, barrels, troughs, storage tubs, wheelbarrows and water butts when not in use, to avoid filling with water after rain, when you’re not around. Fit tight lids on anything that remains, and keep watering cans empty, and choose water butts with child-pet-locks.
Remove anything that children or pets could climb up to access dangerous water sources (steps, stacked pots, ladders etc). Keep fresh water in heavy dishes for pets, so they are not tempted to drink from buckets, and ensure drip-feed bottles are not blocked or frozen.
Shallow water dishes and bird baths
- Keep water dishes for wildlife shallow (2 to 5cm is enough) and add stones, so bees and butterflies can land safely. Rough surfaces are better to prevent slips (boil and rinse regularly, to remove slippery algae).
- Place bird baths 1 to 2 metres above ground, with a 360 degree view away from shrubs, so birds can see predators, when drinking or bathing.
- Fill bird baths with fresh water daily, and use a plastic-free scrub brush keep it free from dirt and algae (avoid chemicals).
Barn Owl Trust has tips for farmers on how to keep owls safe from open troughs and containers, with info on how to make floats (wood doesn’t work, as it sinks when waterlogged).
Keep children, pets and wildlife safe near ponds
Ensure ponds have sloping sides for easy entry and exit, with again shallow stones as safe landing pads. Read more on how to build a wildlife pond.
Keep children and pets away from ponds, and use low fences or gates to prevent access. Avoid steep edging stones, as they can cause falls). Leave one side of the pond clear (thick plants could hide the water’s edge).
SafaDeck is a glass polymer grid that clips onto removable aluminium beams without having to remove thee grid for maintenance. Triangular holes lets plants thrive, and the guard supports the impact falling weight of an average small child. This meets guidelines set by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Creative Pond covers can stop predators from attacking wildlife (or fish in other ponds). The company also makes well covers, if you need one.
Water safety near swimming pools
- Choose paddling pools with shallow sides, set on level ground, and empty after each use.
- Rake off algae in natural swimming ponds, and use sloping sides and rough liners, for grip. Keep pools covered when not in use (fence with gates and use a cover, when not in use).
- Choose natural pool cleaners, and don’t let pets drink pool water.
- Frog Log (invented by a wildlife biologist) is placed around decks for quick escape for small critters (buy numbers based on pool sizes).
- Use with Critter Skimmer (which prevents small creatures getting sucked into skimmers). Turn off the skimmer at night (or if regulations allow, have a brief shutdown, to ‘cycle off’ at dusk).
How councils can keep wildlife safe near drains
Use drain covers to keep curious creatures like hedgehogs safe (if they fall in, Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital says the only solution is to gently remove with two pairs of pliers to attach to spines, then take to your nearest wildlife rescue to check for injuries and burns.
ACO Wildlife Gully is a stainless steel ladder that migrating amphibians and reptiles can use, to escape from drainage gullies. Couple with their ACO Guide Wall, or ACO Wildlife Kerb systems. The weighting bars prevent the ladder from rising, during heavy rainfall (one pack is enough for 25 ladders).
