Wild fruit crops hit by heatwave

The summer heatwave could spell danger for wild fruit crops and the animals that feed on them, according to the Woodland Trust.

The Trust’s Nature’s Calendar project is already receiving reports of ripe berries – two months earlier than normal. If the hot weather continues, the lack of water could mean berries are smaller this season, and some may drop from trees and shrubs altogether.

This would leave migratory birds such as fieldfare and redwing, which arrive in the UK around October, left with less food. The high temperatures could also trigger changes in flora, with tree leaves browning earlier in an effort to preserve water and also leaving them more susceptible to threats such as tree pests and diseases.

The Wildlife Trust is urging the public to take note of seasonal changes and report them via naturescalendar. woodlandtrust.org.uk/add-a-record/ Samantha Herbert