As winter's grip tightens across the UK, gardeners are being encouraged to deploy an unlikely piece of sports equipment to protect vulnerable wildlife. The humble tennis ball, often associated with games of fetch, is emerging as a crucial tool to support creatures like hedgehogs and birds through the frosty season.
How Tennis Balls Create Safer Gardens
According to advice from Nunnery Plumbing and Heating, the key is thoughtful placement rather than scattering balls randomly. The recommendation is to start with five or six old, dog-safe balls and view your outdoor space from an animal's perspective.
"Walk your garden like a hedgehog or a blackbird would. Slowly. Low to the ground. Watching the surfaces," the guidance suggests. Balls should be positioned near bird feeders where landings can be clumsy, and at the edges of smooth patios or decking steps where invisible ice can form.
For hedgehogs, placing balls along known routes—by fences, compost heaps, and gaps under sheds—can turn hazardous, flat zones into a series of smaller, safer steps. The balls serve as visual and tactile guides in the low winter light.
Preventing Water Sources From Freezing Solid
Tennis balls also play a vital role for gardeners with ponds, bird baths, or other water features. Simply placing a ball on the water's surface can help prevent it from freezing over completely.
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust endorses this method, explaining that the wind moves the ball around, disrupting ice formation. This is critical for birds, who need to bathe regularly to maintain their feather condition and natural oils, which are essential for insulation against the cold.
Affordable and Accessible Alternatives
You don't need to buy new equipment for this hack. Old, softer tennis balls are ideal, provided they are cleaned and not crumbling. The advice stresses ensuring balls are not breaking down into swallowable crumbs.
If tennis balls aren't available, several alternatives can achieve similar results. These include old rubber playground balls, sections of hose over posts, floating logs or sealed bottles in ponds, and brightly coloured fabric tied to nets.
This simple, low-cost intervention highlights how minor adjustments in garden maintenance can have a significant positive impact on local wildlife during the challenging winter months, making our outdoor spaces safer havens for nature.
