Bees landing safely on stones in a shallow water dish
Water

Make a safe drinking station for insects

Create a shallow, clean water source with secure landing places for bees and other small visitors.

Easy 15 minutes6 min readReviewed 29 July 2026
Why it matters

Pollinators sometimes need water, particularly during warm, dry weather. A drinking station should be shallow, easy to grip and simple to clean. It is a small feature, but regular maintenance matters more than decorative complexity.

Step by step

Make it happen.

01

Choose a wide, shallow dish

Use a plant saucer, glazed dish or other stable container with low sides. Avoid smooth, deep vessels that offer no escape. Set it on a level surface in light shade or morning sun, close to flowers but away from pesticide use and busy foot traffic.

A shallow ceramic water dish raised on smooth stones in a shaded garden
02

Add safe landing points

Place washed pebbles or marbles so several surfaces remain above the waterline. The stones should be stable and close enough for small insects to step between them without entering deep water.

Fresh clean water rippling in a shallow garden dish
03

Fill it lightly and keep it fresh

Add clean water only to the lower part of the stones. Top it up in dry weather, empty and rinse the dish regularly, and remove algae, soil and dead insects before refilling. A clean shallow source is safer than a permanently stagnant one.

A shallow garden water feature being refilled with a watering can
04

Make it part of a wider habitat

Place nectar-rich flowers nearby and keep another water source for birds if space allows. The drinking station works best as one part of a garden that also provides food, nesting opportunities and shelter from wind and heat.

Keep it wild. Keep it safe.

Let wildlife arrive in its own time.

Use responsibly sourced plants and materials, avoid moving animals from the wild, and always build in safe access and escape routes. The best habitat is one that can settle, change and become part of the wider garden.

Written and reviewed by

Natasha Card

BSc Environmental Science

Mini Wild Garden turns wildlife science and trusted UK conservation guidance into practical changes that work in ordinary gardens, balconies and small outdoor spaces.

Read the Mini Wild Garden approach →
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