UK drought: Why do the trees think it's autumn already?

bbc.co.uk

23 points·helsinkiandrew··7 comments

Well, that’s mildly terrifying.

> The Woodland Trust, which records seasonal changes, has received its earliest ever report of ripe blackberries - from 28 June.

I wonder if we fully understand the knock-on effects of this.

Early berries

-> fewer in winter when they’re one of the few source of food for birds

-> fewer birds

-> more insects

-> worse crop yields?

We had a relatively minor drought here '18 in comparison to what the UK is facing, but it seems to have done a real number on the insect population. It isn't until this year they seem to be returning (based on the state of the front of my car). Went for a walk in the forest the other week, and it was quiet, so the knock-on effects seem to be pretty huge in terms of the bird population. Granted it isn't spring, but you'd expect to hear at least some birds.

Unsettling to say the least.

I had a lovely day picking blackberries in Hampstead Heath today so there’s certainly lots of them left

It’s survival mode. Leaves need a lot of water, and the water evaporates through the leaves. So trees just drop them, before they die of thirst.

It’s probably not critical for many trees, but an important warning sign.

It's spring already here in South Africa. It's a bit early. Not a lot, but enough to notice

The cherry tree in my backyard has dropped all its leaves in the past week. I’m worried for it next year

Many trees are doing the same, there is a minus one month delay

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