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The most established reason for leaving a tennis ball out over winter is the garden pond. A ball floating on the surface is described by two wildlife organisations as a way to keep the water from freezing over, and if ice does form, lifting the ball out leaves an opening that lets air reach the animals below. The sources cited here do not show that a ball reliably stops a whole pond from freezing. The idea that scattering balls on icy lawns helps birds and hedgehogs also circulates, but it comes from lifestyle journalism quoting experts, not from wildlife trials.
Why a tennis ball goes in the pond
Frozen ponds can be a problem for fish, frogs and other aquatic life. Kent Wildlife Trust notes that frozen pond water can build up toxic gases that harm fish or frogs, which is why an opening in the ice matters. A floating tennis ball is a low-cost way to try to keep part of the surface clear. Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPCA both mention this method in their winter advice, and both present it as a simple tip rather than a complete solution.
Three limits apply. The sources do not establish the size of the opening a ball creates, how long it stays open, or how much it improves oxygen levels. They also do not show that a ball keeps an entire pond ice-free. Treat the ball as one helpful measure, not a replacement for appropriate pond habitat.
How to use a ball in a pond
- Choose a clean ball. Ideal Home quotes horticultural expert Richard Barker advising clean balls, which is a sensible precaution around wildlife.
- Float it before the freeze. Place the ball on the surface of the pond or pool as cold weather approaches. Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPCA both describe this placement.
- Check its condition regularly. Barker also advises checking that balls are not breaking down into pieces an animal could swallow. Replace any ball that is splitting or crumbling.
- Lift the ball out if the surface ices over. The RSPCA advises taking the ball off to leave a ready-made air hole. Kent Wildlife Trust describes removing the ball as creating an opening for wildlife.
- Open the ice gently if needed. If the ball has not kept a gap, use the methods in the next section rather than force.
What not to do with pond ice
Both the RSPCA and Kent Wildlife Trust warn against common quick fixes that damage the animals you are trying to protect.
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- Do not smash the ice. The RSPCA warns that breaking ice can harm animals in the water.
- Do not pour hot water on the ice. The RSPCA and Kent Wildlife Trust both caution against boiling water. Hot water can also harm animals in the pond.
- Do make small holes gently. Kent Wildlife Trust recommends gently making holes in the ice so that gases can escape and air can enter.
The lawn idea: what is and is not established
Lifestyle coverage has suggested scattering tennis balls across snowy or icy lawns. The reasoning is that a bright, textured ball is easy for birds and hedgehogs to see and may give them something to land on or steady themselves against. Ideal Home published this idea around December 2025, quoting experts including Richard Barker and James Ewens.
This is expert commentary, not a demonstrated intervention. None of the sources cited here show that scattered balls prevent falls or improve wildlife survival, and no controlled study on the question was found. If you choose to try it, use clean balls that are not breaking apart, and treat it as an experiment rather than a proven aid.
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Winter support that is better established
The measures below have stronger backing from the RHS, RSPCA, Kew and government guidance. A tennis ball, if used at all, works best alongside them.
Food and clean water
- Vary the food. The RHS suggests offering a range of supplementary foods rather than one type.
- Use high-energy food. The RSPCA recommends birdseed, mealworms and fat balls.
- Remove netting from fat balls. The RSPCA specifically advises removing the mesh, which can trap birds’ feet or beaks.
- Keep water unfrozen. The RHS recommends clean, unfrozen water for birds and other wildlife. Kent Wildlife Trust advises small amounts of food and clean water.
Leaf piles, stems and shelter
The RHS says leaf and twig piles provide food and habitat, and that hollow perennial stems can shelter hibernating insects. Kew notes that hedgehogs may hibernate in nests of fallen leaves or in sheltered places such as under logs, compost heaps or sheds. Leaving these areas undisturbed through winter helps wildlife that depends on them.
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Hedges and garden routes
Hedges provide shelter and food, and the RHS recommends waiting until late winter or early spring to prune them. The RHS also suggests leaving gaps at the base of fences so hedgehogs can move between gardens. Its advice on connected habitat puts it simply: “Connected hedges give hedgehogs safe passage.”
Hedgehog measures from GOV.UK
Government guidance lists several garden measures that help hedgehogs:
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- Wild areas where hedgehogs can forage and nest
- Log piles or purpose-built hedgehog homes
- Avoiding pesticides and poisons
- Providing water and suitable food
- A gap in the fence for movement between gardens
The same GOV.UK page, last updated 23 October 2020, quotes Fay Vass, then chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, saying hedgehog numbers had fallen by a third in urban areas and by half in rural areas since 2000. That is a historical figure reported on the page, not a current population estimate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and how current they are
| Source | Date or status | What it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Wildlife Trust, “Help Wildlife this Winter!” | Search result dated roughly 2021 | Pond ball method, gentle ice opening, avoiding force or boiling water, small amounts of food and clean water |
| RSPCA, “6 ways to help winter wildlife” | Undated; reviewed for this article | Pond ball and air hole, avoiding smashed ice or hot water, high-energy bird food, removing fat-ball netting |
| Ideal Home, “Wildlife experts want you to scatter tennis balls in your garden” | Around December 2025 | Expert view on the lawn idea and on ball condition; secondary commentary, not a study |
| RHS, “Hedge and woodland edge habitats” and “Ideas on attracting wildlife to your garden” | Undated | Hedges, leaf piles, hollow stems, food and water, fence gaps |
| Kew, “Winter wildlife in your garden” | Undated | Seasonal food, water and shelter needs; hedgehog hibernation sites |
| GOV.UK / Defra, “Five simple steps to transform gardens into ‘hedgehog havens'” | Published 2016; last updated 23 October 2020 | Garden measures for hedgehogs; historical population figures attributed to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society |
Where a source is older or undated, the advice is still widely used, but check the current version of the page before relying on exact wording.
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