As the days are due to get shorter and the nights longer do you remember how the summer was?
This summer in the UK, we experienced record-breaking heatwaves and hotter nights; it was the driest it had ever been. With elevated temperatures, low rainfall, and climate change in place, we need to think about what impact this could have on nature!
Fires
With the weather being hotter and drier, there is no moisture getting into plants/trees and fields are drying up. With high heat and no rain, there is a bigger risk of fires, especially in fields and even suburban areas. Extreme weather and heatwaves create the perfect conditions for a wildfire to catch and spread. During these times it is vital to be extra vigilant when it comes to using barbeques and disposing of rubbish and cigarettes.
Animals and Birds
Conservationists in the UK did not see as much movement from wildlife as they tried to shelter from the weather and are expecting to see a further decline in the number of insects. The most being butterflies and bumblebees. There were reports of birds falling out of the sky due to heat stress. It affected reptiles as they were unable to regulate their body heat and are the same temperature as the environment around them.
How Can You Help Wildlife?
- You could help by putting out bowls of water, making sure these are on the ground and are shallow, this helps with hedgehogs and their young.
- Put and shelters in cooler areas to help wildlife shelter and keep out of direct sun.
- Put out moist foods like raisins and sultanas (cat food helps with hedgehogs too !!)
- If you see an animal in need, ensure you report it to the appropriate authority.
Early Autumn & Early Food Ripening
A lengthy spell of hot temperatures can cause droughts. As you may have noticed, due to a lack of water, trees started to drop leaves earlier and flowers had a slight brown/pink discolouration; this was due to sugars in leaves had become more concentrated and leaves started to crisp up and fall off, this was the trees attempt at preserving moisture in branches and the trunk
With a change in climate, it can throw off the natural cycle which can cause food to ripen early. This happens with a lot of plants, because of the heat the fruits they are producing are often smaller, as the tree is preserving moisture for the plant. This can be bad for animals that depend on food later on in autumn as they use these to build up their food reserves for winter.
Written by Kayleigh Marshall
