How to make a wildlife water station

Pollinating is busy work. By setting up a safe and refreshing water station for bees, you can help pollinators and other small wildlife stay hydrated and healthy all year round.

Let's make a difference for every kind, including our fuzzy, buzzy friends.

Suitable for: Adults, and children with their adults!

Season: Summer

Jude admiring the new water station placed in a garden border.

Fresh water is so important for pollinators, especially in the hotter summer months, and creating a bee drinking station can attract other wildlife to your garden too.

While bees get their main nutrients from nectar and pollen, they use water to cool themselves and their hive, dilute honey and feed larvae. Clean water can also be a lifeline for birds, hedgehogs and many other garden visitors.

Using rainwater instead of tap water prevents too many nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen) and disinfectants (like chlorine) entering the garden water source for wildlife. While these don’t affect us, they can be harmful to animals.

Make your DIY wildlife water station

Instructions

Choose a shallow dish or saucer - give it a good wash to make sure there’s nothing that can contaminate the water.

Make resting places - fill your container with clean pebbles or small rocks. These give bees and insects safe places to land and take a drink, without falling into the water. If they do slip in, it will also make it easier for them to climb out.

Find a shady spot for your station - choose a shady area (to prevent rapid evaporation) near flowers, so pollinators have easy access while they’re busy at work.

Fill up with rainwater - pour a small amount of rainwater into the dish, making sure the top of the pebbles and rocks stay dry for safe landings. If you don’t have access to rainwater, use tap water that’s been left out for a few days.

Check in daily and top up - top up weekly or when needed, and enjoy watching the wildlife you’re helping, as well as the flowers they’ll help pollinate!

What you'll need

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

Clean pebbles or small rocks

Rainwater, or tap water that’s been left out for a few days

Watch our video for more advice on how to make your own Hydration station to help wildlife in your garden.

Jude placing small rocks and stones into a plastic container. — Build

Water from a blue and yellow watering can filling up the new water station. — Fill up

My two-year-old son really enjoyed this activity. Each time we go into the garden it’s fun to check if we can spot bees or other wildlife using the drinking station or enjoying the flowers nearby.

Mariah Worthington, RSPCA Social Media Officer