Almost Three-Quarters of England Is Now in Drought Conditions

UK turf industry at ‘defining moment’ as drought and rising costs put future supply at risk

The UK turf industry is facing a defining moment as extreme weather, rising production costs and increasing climate-related risks place unprecedented pressure on growers, the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) has warned. Figures released by the Government on 10 August show that 71.3% of England is experiencing drought conditions, following an exceptionally hot and dry summer and the driest July on record for England. For turf growers, the prol…

Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought conditions

Madeleine Cuff at New Scientist: Summer 2026 is likely to be the warmest on record in the UK, with repeated searing heatwaves and a severe drought affecting much of the country. In southern England in particular, the landscape is parched and crispy, rivers and reservoirs are running low, and trees are shedding their leaves in a stress response to the dry weather. Much of Europe is baking under similar conditions. How much longer can we cope with…