The UK’s record-breaking summer brought prolonged periods of heat and dry weather, with some parts of the country particularly affected by drought.
Kevin Martin, Head of Tree Collections at Royal Bontanic Gardens, Kew, said: “Following the UK’s hottest summer on record, we may not see the usual blaze of autumn colour arrive all at once this year.”
Many trees, particularly in southern England, have already shed their leaves prematurely. This happens when trees respond to heat and drought stress by dropping their leaves early to conserve water.
“False autumns are a warning sign. Trees can live for hundreds of years, but they are increasingly under pressure from a rapidly changing climate,” Martin said.
However, some trees could still produce spectacular autumn colours.
“Recent rainfall could still bring a strong display from individual trees in October, and some species may put on an even more impressive show than usual,” he added.
Source: www.bbc.com
