Bloomin’ heat means no In Bloom event
This summer’s hot spell, which is due to reach heatwave proportions, has taken its toll on villages across the county and an annual competition has paid the price.
Bearsted in Bloom has been scrapped for 2018 due to the patches of burnt grass and the effect the weather has had on hanging baskets.
Michael Bollom, Chairman of Bearsted Parish Council, said: “We had a number of applications that were withdrawn saying their hanging baskets aren’t in the state they should be and their gardens are just straw.
“We thought the best thing would be to contact Notcutts, our sponsor, and it agreed Bearsted in Bloom should be postponed until next year.
“Applications will be open in April and we will have the competition before any hot spell.
“There are a lot of disappointed people. The village green isn’t a green, it is just straw and our cricket has been affected.”
The recent hot weather also means some farmers will be harvesting some crops slightly earlier this year, which means muck spreading on fields could take place over the coming weeks.
In recent years the event usually leads to smell complaints being made to councils.
Experts at the Met Office issued an amber heatwave alert this week.
Temperatures were not due to not dip below 28C this week.
A 90% probability of heatwave conditions ran from 9am Monday until 9am on Friday.
Yet the hot and humid air lying over Kent could give way to thunderstorms.
Forecasters advised people to stay out of the sun and keep homes as cool as possible.