The dangers of 'fake' autumn in England

On the streets of England, the sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot and the red trees can make many people think that autumn is coming soon.

However, experts say this change is unusual. Hot, dry weather and severe water shortages in the UK are pushing plants into survival mode.

Extreme conditions cause trees to 'stress', leaves fall or change color. There is concern that some trees may die from not getting enough water, according to the BBC.

'Yellow leaves and early leaf fall are both signs that the plant is under stress and is slowly shutting down,' said Leigh Hunt, senior horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society.

During the summer, Britain faced record low rainfall and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. This has led to numerous bushfires, droughts and a watering ban, and has had an adverse impact. to nature.

Fallen leaves in London.

Trees 'bewildered'

'They look like we're in autumn. But daylight is too long for autumn to begin naturally. Physiologically, plants don't respond to true autumn conditions, so we call this false autumn,' Mr Hunt said.

The damage to trees in rural England is among the worst Mr Hunt has seen in 45 years.

Old trees can withstand drought through their deep and wide root systems. However, younger plants, especially grown on nutrient-poor soil at the edge of the road, will wither and die.

Plants that lose only a few yellow leaves will recover if the necessary amount of rain is present. However, when plants cannot absorb enough water that is lost during transpiration from the leaves, it will be difficult for them to recover.

To face such extreme conditions, plants can respond by producing more seeds to ensure future survival.

Dead tree in London park.

"If there's a lot of rain, we might even see a 'second spring' with more saplings growing," Hunt said.

The effects of weather also appear in berries. The Woodland Trust, which records seasonal changes, has received the earliest ever ripe raspberry report.

'Fruits and nuts are ripening faster than ever. This can be catastrophic for wildlife. The record heat that the UK has just experienced has brought a number of early autumn events,' said Fritha West, researcher with the Woodland Trust.

'We also hold the record for the earliest black raspberry ripening ever in the south of England. Hawthorn and rowan berries are also ripening early in some regions, where early leaf discoloration is also observed. Both extreme temperatures and lack of water can cause trees to drop their leaves earlier than we expect,' she added.

Impact on the ecosystem

It is difficult to predict the long-term consequences of drought. Ecologists say the arid grasslands and rock-hard soils of much of southern England will have a major impact on wildlife.

The impact of the drought on the surrounding area and on the rivers could linger for years to come.

During heat waves, algae grow faster than usual, seriously threatening vegetation in wetlands. They grow on the surface of the water, not allowing sunlight to reach below.

Old tree roots exposed due to low water levels at Lake Colliford.

Low river water levels reduce the habitat of fish, amphibians and invertebrates. This will seriously affect the entire ecosystem.

'These plants provide important habitat for insects and fish. Their disappearance from the ecosystem would cause major changes in the food chain,' said Mike Bowes, PhD, of the UK's Center for Ecology and Hydrology.

'It can take several years for vegetation to recover in drought-affected rivers,' he asserts.