Communities rally to keep wildlife safe in heat
BBCResidents of a village in Kent have transported fish from the local pond as they were concerned over decreasing water levels.
People living near the village pond collected hundreds of fish using Wellington boots, jugs, nets and buckets and took them to another nearby pond.
The community went to the pond after the parish council were given permission by the Environment Agency to move the fish.
Meanwhile, a local animal sanctuary has said an appeal for people to donate hay has had an "amazing" response.
Speaking about the help being given at the pond, Matfield Parish Councillor Andrew Stout told BBC Radio Kent: "There's always been a community spirit in Matfield and we want to keep this pond as healthy as we can.
"This issue is going to happen again. We can't say when. We might leave it for a year and see what it looks like."
Sam Vickers, who drives past the pond on her journey to and from work, said she didn't realise "how severe things were until I saw it on social media".
She said: "The pond has a quarter worth of surface water. Most of it is just silt.
"Lots of little fish are still alive but many have perished already."
The Environment Agency has been approached for comment.
Elsewhere in Kent, an animal sanctuary has urged people to donate hay as the hot weather has hit supplies.
Maynards Sanctuary in Lamberhurst, which has goats, llamas and alpacas, said the situation was "critical".
Joanna Lawton, from the sanctuary, told BBC Radio Kent: "We're facing a difficult situation where all the grass has been scorched by the hot weather.
"Farmers are feeding their own animals, but the response we had was amazing.
"Prices are rising so we don't know what is going to happen in the future. We need to put systems in to help us store rainwater."
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