After the highest ever temperature recorded in the UK in July, and below average rainfall locally, Hambrook Marshes is now a misnomer – the ponds and most of the ditches have dried up. There is still some water for the cattle, which are now subsisting on a diet that is effectively hay, rather than lush grass. But the Marshes are now severely heat-stressed. The scene has changed from vibrant green to ash-grey with few flowers, the heat speeding up the season, causing most blooms to wither earlier than usual.
The willow cuttings that were established in the winter as an extension to the osier bed have survived so far, but are struggling, their poorly-formed root systems barely able to find enough water to keep the shoots alive. Fortunately, the trees that were planted in the hay field three seasons ago have survived without any additional watering this year, and are now starting to perform their intended role of partially obscuring the A2 bridge and traffic.