3 minute read
Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE
Feeling the effects of the dry weather
AS I write this in mid-August with the temperature outside now at 34°C, I think it’s fair to say that we really haven’t had any substantial rain since March. The fields now are brown and parched and so dangerously dry that the fire risk is very high. Of course, by the time you read this, we could be under flood alerts but the here and now story is one of heat and water shortages (although we have escaped the official “drought” category so far).
Climate change modelling predicted times like this, the times of extremes, where the UK pulls in the continental summer heat and, of course, if long periods or dry come, then as sure as cows are sheep the floods must come next, along with extreme cold, from time to time.
So, I suppose the question for us is: “Are we ready?” The answer appears to be a huge “NO”.
However, it is worth looking at how nature responds to these extremes and how, of course, we can imitate or use nature as a way of easing our path through these times.
Moisture retention in short grass is poor because of the direct and penetrating heat; in longer grass and thicker vegetation it’s much better. Yes, it’s still drying out but not as much.
It’s interesting that blackbirds and thrushes are going into these areas looking for food and the reason is because what they want to eat needs a moister environment. Not surprising that so many birds in the heat of the day seek out shelter, the shelter they seek is the coolness within the scrub layer, or trees.
So, what can clearly help is making more ground available that should include scrubland and trees. Not just birds, but mammals will also feel the drought; on a one-hour walk in my local woodland I found eight dead common shrews. These shrews need to eat frequently and also must drink but, with both depleted insect food and not even droplets of water for them.
Not surprising that so many birds seek shelter in the heat of the day in the coolness of the scrub layer or trees.
Also during drought and heatwave,
By CHRIS SPERRING MBE
flowering plants will become stressed, which will mean they aren’t producing the amount of nectar for the insects, so of course that knock-on effect hits shrews and birds.
Safeguarding against these extreme weather events will take a lot of cooperation between many interest groups, with the trouble being that some of these are already divided, but this is where “small government” can help by encouraging these different points of view to come together in one room and plan, instead of constantly just reacting to each crisis.
The trick will be juggling our need to produce food and build more houses alongside protecting and enhancing the natural environment. So come on leaders, lead…
The Next Hawk and Owl Trust walk is on Friday, September 9th and is an evening event. Hopefully, in addition to seeing daytime species going to roost or burrow we will get some nocturnal species waking. Booking is essential through www.hawkandowltrust.org.uk For all Mendip walks and events please contact me directly. Have a great, wild September!
Damping down after fire from a faulty combine harvester spread to a field of crops The painted lady butterfly; insects are suffering from the hot and dry weather also
