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Southeast England officially in drought
The water companies serving southeast England have today announced a hosepipe ban from April 5 till further notice (almost certainly until at least Autumn 2012) as a result of two successive abnormally dry winters
The area covered is illustrated at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17340844. The ban at present means above all that gardens can't be hosed or sprinkled. It doesn't affect farmers much yet, and most private gardens can, at present, get enough water for fruit and veg from manually administered watering cans. But, unless we get steady rain (highly unlikely) for the next few months, practically all lawns and many formal gardens, especially in London, Kent and the Cotswolds, are going to be goners. It's highly likely the ban will be extended to other non-essential uses over the next month (there's almost no rain forecast in the affected area), though it's less likely it'll be extended geographically. Even in normal times, rainfall in SE England is extraordinarily low. But this year, anyone planning to tour gardens ought to go elsewhere, in Britain or Europe, or find alternative distractions |
Drink more Spitfire ale is what I say.
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South west France isn't much better. They announced restrictions on agriculture today in some areas. Bordeaux/Toulouse rainfall is about 70% below what it usually is. Great weather this week and most of next, cold at night, but high teens, even into the 20's some places. Just would be nie to have some rain.
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Does this mean that on flanner's gated estate the hired gardeners cannot water the acres of flora and perhaps fauna? My heart does bleed!
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If I'd known I would have sent you last summer's weather Flanner. I'll happily swap what we had last year for a bit of a dry summer. Doesn't even have to be hot, just dry.
You'll be putting a brick in the cistern and sharing baths again will you? On a more serious note the drought in the UK is no laughing matter, and could affect a lot more than just gardens, public or private, over the coming months. The Olympics could add nicely to the problems too ;). |
Uk still building more houses and golf courses in the south east, Thames water leaks 35% of all the water it takes out of the ground (virtually no improvement since they were privatised) and the people of the south continue to generate as much CO2 as ever. Hardly a surprise and it will continue until we grow up.
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Your bleating will intensify when we achieve independence and charge you 20 quid for a pint of Scottish water. Looking forward to seeing camels wandering round Kent.
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click on flanner's profile and you will see his estate's backyard all chock full of snow - last winter I believe - loads of snow in winter and no rain in spring? Definitely climate change IMO - wild swings away from normal being one of the predictions.
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Last time I looked the Cotswolds were not in the south east of England.
Snow does not actually provide much water unless it is really deep. It needs about 10" of dry snow to make 1" of water. Why do you doubt what he says? It is a fact. The south east has been without sufficient rainfall for several years. |
Why do you doubt what he says?>
This is what he says above: <But, unless we get steady rain (highly unlikely) for the next few months, practically all lawns and many formal gardens, especially in London, Kent and the Cotswolds, are going to be goners.> sounds like either you or flanner do not know what Southeast England encompasses? |
http://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/
the real South East England as defined by the Southeast England Tourist Board - sans Cotswold Hills. |
shame we can't send some of our cornish rain east. We've had plenty this winter.
though this week has been glorious - the best spring I can remember in years. |
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no drought in the pubs I fear! Oh I meant draught.
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Why do you doubt what he says? It is a fact. The south east has been without sufficient rainfall for several years>
You misread my post - I did not doubt what flanner said - WHO would dare doubt flanner? - I just was pointing out the weirdness of tons of snow in winters that rarely see any and the drought in springs that rarely see sun. Has to be climate change IMO - which dictates more extremes of climate - like the several-year drought in SW England - including perhaps the Cotswold Hills. |
like the several-year drought in SW England >>
I think you mean SE england. no drought here in the south west. |
Yes indeedy - SE England were meant!
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Annhig, hope fully we will have a rain free visit in SW England. :-)
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oh, judy, definitely. I've already put in the order!
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