Photos taken weeks apart in London's Regent's Park show the stark impact of the ongoing drought, as the capital experiences its fourth heatwave of the summer. The images, shared on Reddit, compare the park's lush green grass on 7th June with the parched brown landscape on 2nd August, highlighting the severity of the dry conditions.
Drought Conditions Spread Across UK
Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought, with July confirmed as the driest month on record. Affected areas include London, East Anglia, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Devon, Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex, covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.
The drought has led to hosepipe bans in several parts of the UK, restricting the use of garden hoses to water plants and fields. This has caused severe damage to crops and forced livestock farmers to rely on winter feed reserves.
Park Photos Reveal Damage
A Reddit user posted two photos taken near the Gloucester Gate entry of Regent's Park, merged to show the difference. The earlier photo showed vibrant green grass and trees, while the later one depicted dry, brown grass and drooping vegetation.
Commenters expressed shock, with one saying, "Damn, we really need a good splash of rain, to help our natural environment." Another added, "We were there at the open air theatre yesterday. Huge parts of it aren't even dry grass anymore, it's all been worn away and now it's just dust."
Record-Breaking Summer
The Environment Agency declared a "flash drought" for London on 29 July due to low rainfall and high temperatures. The summer's first heatwave began on 22 May, breaking the record for the hottest May day on consecutive days, with 34.8C recorded at Kew Gardens on 25 May, surpassing the previous record of 32.8C set in 1922. The following day, 35.1C was recorded at the same location.
The second heatwave began on 19 June, setting a new UK record for the hottest June day when 37.7C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June. A third heatwave started on 4 July, peaking at 35.5C in Wisley, Surrey, on 9 July. A fourth heatwave began on 28 July, triggering Amber UKHSA heat-health alerts and heightened wildfire risks.
Weather maps suggest yet another heatwave could follow in a few days, according to the Met Office.
