4 ms·
UK drought: Why do the trees think it's autumn already?
- cjrp 4y agoWell, 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?
- marginalia_nu 4y agoWe 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.
- robk 4y agoI had a lovely day picking blackberries in Hampstead Heath today so there’s certainly lots of them left
- andix 4y agoIt’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.
- RikNieu 4y agoIt's spring already here in South Africa. It's a bit early. Not a lot, but enough to notice
- pvaldes 4y agoMany trees are doing the same, there is a minus one month delay
- robk 4y agoThe cherry tree in my backyard has dropped all its leaves in the past week. I’m worried for it next year