Falling birds and dehydrated hedgehogs: heatwave takes its toll on UK wildlife

A deer takes refuge in Ham Dip Pond in London’s Richmond Park during the July heatwave. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/REX/Shutterstock

Animal rescue centres received a glut of calls, birds fell out of the sky and nature reserves burned as British wildlife baked in last week’s heatwave.

Conservationists said animals were eerily still as they tried to shelter from the heat. Experts fear that record-breaking temperatures could cause a further collapse in insect numbers, with bumblebees and butterflies among those most affected.