This content was posted on 24. August 2022 – 11:41
(AFP)
A harsh, dry summer in England not only dried up rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but trees shed their leaves prematurely, creating a “false autumn”.
Instead of the postcard-perfect greenery of gardens, parks and forests associated with England, the landscape is now a sea of orange, yellow, red and brown, leaving a blanket of leaves on the ground.
Premature leaf fall — known as “false autumn” — is a sign of stress for trees, which respond by shedding their foliage to conserve moisture.
But while trees with deep roots can withstand drier conditions, younger, shallower trees may be at risk, experts say.
“Trees use autumn hormones to kick back and ensure their survival,” explains Rosie Walker from the Woodland Trust.
“They will continue to do this for a few years, but if we’re not careful it will start to affect our trees,” he told BBC radio.
July saw temperatures rise above 40°C for the first time and was the driest month on record for many parts of southern and eastern England.
The heat wave, climate change and months of exceptionally low rainfall have led authorities to ban the use of irrigation hoses to conserve water in some areas.
According to the Woodland Foundation, this phenomenon indicates that many fruits, such as wild blackberries, that are usually eaten in the fall are ripening earlier and are now ready in late June.
Other berries and nuts ripen early, which poses a risk of early spoilage and leaves some animals without enough food in the fall.
“For wildlife, timing is everything in nature,” explains Steve Hussey, representative of the Devon Wildlife Trust in south-west England.
“Climate crisis is bringing unadapted seasonal patterns to our wildlife,” he commented.
For Hussey, long summers “and false autumns reverberate through the autumn months and beyond in countless creatures”.
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