Kew Gardens victim of drought as its forced to stop watering lawns

Kew Gardens is the latest victim of UK’s drought as its forced to stop watering lawns to save water for precious plants.

This comes as farmers warn of a lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower shortages.  

Britain will hit 90F (32C) this afternoon making the country hotter than Thailand.

But the heatwave has caused havoc for the countryside with aerial photographs showing scorched fields of crops. 

Kew Gardens have now confirmed staff will be letting the lawns go brown in a bid to reserve water

And London’s Hyde Park hasn’t been immune for the water shortages, with its once-lush green lawns now fried fields of yellow. 

Kew Gardens have now confirmed staff will be letting the lawns go brown in a bid to reserve water.

Jet-spraying will also stop at Temperate House, the world’s largest glasshouse which recently reopened following a multi-million pound renovation. 

An aerial image of a vibrant Hyde Park in 2005 (left) and a photo from Thursday showing the grass looking completely dried out (right)

Reservoir virtually empty causing havoc with Bolton’s water supplies

This dried-up reservoir near Manchester is a stark illustration of the looming water shortage.

Wayoh Reservoir provides up to half of Bolton’s water but is virtually empty as the heatwave eats into supplies.

Last week United Utilities issued a plea for local people to conserve water by not using hosepipes and limiting showers.

A dried up reservoir near Manchester has shown the extent of a serious water situation that could be imminent 

The company says that an extra half-a-billion litres were used in the North West on Friday, double the amount from earlier in the week.

A spokesman said: ‘The hot weather means we’re seeing a massive increase in water consumption across our area.

‘We urgently need your help and support to avoid a hosepipe ban.

‘You can help us by turning off your garden sprinklers, not using your hosepipes, not washing your car and taking shorter showers and not baths this weekend.

Wayoh Reservoir provides up to 50 per cent of Bolton’s water and with it drying up there is an increased strain on providers that are struggling the reach the demand 

‘The demand is so high, particularly during peak times, that we are struggling to get enough water around the system quick enough. If we can all do our bit this will reduce the risk of lower water pressure or no water at all. Thank you, we really appreciate your help.’

Fire continues to blaze on nearby Winter Hill, where about 100 firefighters and 18 fire engines are tackling the fire.

A United Utilites helicopter is assisting at the fire and is drawing water from the nearby Rivington Reservoir and dropping it on affected areas.

The latest of a series of moorland fires that are devastating part of Greater Manchester broke near Horrocks Moor Farm in the early hours of this morning.

Around 50 firefighters are understood to be fighting the blaze.

 

A spokesman told The Express: ‘In periods of low rainfall we have a system of priority watering that secures water for the most important plants and trees, but cuts back or ceases supply for less important parts. 

‘Lawns are allowed to go brown, because they will recover, and bedding plant displays are not watered. Routine tasks, such as power-washing glasshouses, also stop.’ 

Meanwhile a dried up reservoir near Manchester has shown the extent of a serious water situation that could be imminent. 

Wayoh Reservoir provides up to 50 per cent of Bolton’s water and with it drying up there is an increased strain on providers that are struggling the reach the demand. 

A water provider has issued a plea to people to people in Greater Manchester to take showers and avoid using a hosepipes or risk a serious hosepipe ban being enforced. 

Growers say if it doesn’t start raining soon, the iron-rich vegetable that many children love to hate will soon be missing from supermarket shelves.

David Simmons, from Riviera Produce, one of the country’s largest producers of broccoli, said: ‘We need a lot of rain and cooler conditions to keep these crops going through the summer, otherwise the situation will get progressively worse and we could see a real shortage. 

The high temperatures and lack of rain are causing a shortage of broccoli, growers say

‘These crops need a lot of water regularly and we simply have not had it.

‘Unless there’s a change in the weather soon, it will have an impact on availability and quality.’

There will be no help from growers in Europe, with conditions across the Continent leading to a widespread low broccoli yield.

The weather has also led to a cauliflower shortage, and the British Leafy Salad Growers Association has raised an alert, saying the heat was wreaking ‘havoc’ on harvests.

Britain suffered a broccoli shortage earlier this year, when crops were blanketed by heavy snow and then sweltered in the hottest April in 70 years. 

The weather has also led to a cauliflower shortage. The British Leafy Salad Growers Association has raised an alert, saying the heat was wreaking ‘havoc’ on harvests

 

 

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