Make a wildlife drinking station

By setting up a safe and refreshing drinking station, you’re helping bees and other small wildlife stay hydrated and healthy all year round.

A young child admiring the new water station placed in a garden border.

Creating your drinking station

Instructions

1. Making safe islands

Find a shallow dish (like a plant saucer) and fill it with a handful of clean pebbles, small rocks, or marbles. Make sure the bottom is covered.

2. Serving the drink

Find a sunny spot right next to some blooming flowers. Pour a shallow layer of water over the rocks, making sure the tops of the pebbles stay dry. (Note: Rainwater is best, or tap water left out for a day).

3. Daily checks

Make checking the water level a daily routine and remember to top it up with water when needed. Inspect to see how many different animals are making use of your drinking station.

What you’ll need

A shallow container (e.g. plastic tub or a plant saucer).

Clean pebbles or small rocks.

Rainwater (or tap water that has been left out for a few days).

A young child placing small rocks and stones into a plastic container. — Step one

A young child pouring water from a watering can into a water station. — Step two

More ways to help animals this summer

Create an RSPCA account to save ideas to your own dashboard, upload photos of your efforts and get exclusive certificates to celebrate your contribution.

Create an account

Try another act of kindness!

Make your own pet treats

Use our quick and simple recipes to create tasty dog and cat biscuits – treat your own animals or gift them to friends with pets. It’s a healthy, thoughtful way to show kindness.

Planting for pollinators

Find out how to plant more flowers for the 270 different species of bees who live in the UK – as well as other pollinators like hoverflies, wasps, beetles, moths and butterflies.