Hedgehogs, salmon and bird species have been put at risk by this summer’s prolonged dry conditions, Natural England has warned, as drought continues across much of the country.

Addressing the National Drought Group — a forum of government officials and key stakeholders — on Monday, the government’s nature watchdog outlined the severe impact the persistent dry weather has had on wildlife.

Hedgehogs and garden birds have been particularly affected, struggling to dig for worms and insects in hardened, compacted soil. Many have also faced dehydration due to the lack of puddles and natural water sources.

Spawning pools for Atlantic salmon and natterjack toads have dried up, leading to a poor breeding season, while wetland birds such as shovelers and curlews have seen their marsh habitats disappear.

Natural England also reported that important peatlands are drying out, and at least 3,000 hectares (7,410 acres) of land within Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been damaged or destroyed by wildfires.

England has now endured seven consecutive months of below-average rainfall, pushing the country into drought conditions. Despite some recent rainfall, reservoir and groundwater levels remain low, with reservoirs currently averaging around 60% capacity — significantly below the seasonal norm of more than 80%.

August marked the culmination of a hot, arid summer — the warmest on record in the UK since 1884 — with much of England receiving less than half its usual rainfall for the month. The national water deficit has been designated a “nationally significant incident” due to its widespread environmental impact.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has also observed berries ripening several weeks early in gardens across the country. This has raised concerns that birds and other wildlife may face food shortages later in autumn and early winter, when supplies are typically scarce.

RHS experts noted that blackberries, cotoneaster, hawthorn and holly fruited early, while other species such as pyracantha and ivy ripened later than usual.

Experts warn that a sustained period of wet weather over autumn and winter will be required to reverse the effects of seven months of continuous drought.

 

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