Dead Trees and Vanishing Birds: How Extreme Heat Will Change Britain's Landscape

Nature experts in the United Kingdom are warning that extreme heat and drought are already changing the country's landscape in serious ways. Fires have broken out across the country in recent weeks, burning through heathlands in Suffolk, the New Forest, and the West Midlands. Drought has been declared across about 70 percent of England, leaving rivers low and fields cracked and dry. Scientists say that if the climate crisis continues, summers in the UK will only grow hotter and drier — putting trees, wildlife, farms, and people's health at risk.

One of the most visible changes experts predict is the loss of trees. Emma Gilmartin, a senior officer at the Arboricultural Association, says gaps in tree cover will appear in towns, villages, and the countryside. Without enough shade, people will feel the difference every day — even simple things like crossing the street or parking a car will become harder in the heat. She warns that too many newly planted trees are already failing because they don't receive enough care after they are planted.

Long, dry spells weaken trees in many ways. They can cause branches and leaves to die off, a process called 'canopy dieback.' Trees can also drop heavy branches without warning on hot, still days — a dangerous event known as 'summer branch drop.' Ecologists say a 'false autumn' has already been noticed this year, when tree leaves turned brown and fell off much earlier than normal. If this happens too many years in a row, even strong trees can die from the stress.

Some tree species handle heat and drought better than others. Field maple, hornbeam, and holm oak are among the types that experts say will become more important in the years ahead. However, a study by Fund4Trees found that fewer than half of urban trees that had been planted were in good health, and one in five was already dead. Ed Pyne, a tree expert at the Woodland Trust, calculates that England could lose half of its 3,000 ancient oak trees — some more than six metres wide — within 60 years.

Trees are one of the best tools for fighting climate change. They absorb carbon from the air and cool down cities and towns, which can get much hotter than the surrounding countryside. A 2021 government study estimated that UK trees are worth up to £3.83 billion a year when all their benefits — from cleaning the air to reducing noise — are added up. When trees die, those benefits disappear, and cities get even hotter, making it harder for new trees to grow.

Wildlife is also at serious risk. Ecologist Sam Durham says that garden birds like robins and blackbirds depend on damp soil to find worms and insects to eat. When the ground bakes hard in a drought, that food source dries up, and bird populations slowly decline. Ground-nesting birds like lapwings face another threat: sitting on nests in extreme heat can cause eggs and chicks to fail. The RSPB, a bird protection charity, reported in July that climate change is already hurting UK wildlife and could cause 'unprecedented impacts' unless action is taken quickly.

Other animals face serious problems too. Bumblebees overheat easily and are expected to slowly disappear from southern England as temperatures rise, shifting northward to cooler areas. Frogs, newts, and toads may be unable to reproduce because their young need water to survive, and ponds and streams are drying up. Even Atlantic salmon could die off in shallow, warm, oxygen-poor rivers. Durham warns that people will slowly stop seeing these familiar creatures in their gardens and local parks.

Farmers will also feel the effects. Cattle and sheep need shade from trees on hot days, and they need healthy land to graze on. Trees also support the insects that pollinate crops and the predators that keep pests under control. Without trees, whole parts of the food chain that farmers depend on begin to break down. Experts say fewer trees will also make it harder for animals to move across the countryside to find food and shelter.

The effects on everyday human life could be serious too. Dr. Gilmartin warns that children may not be able to play outside because playground tarmac will be too hot and there will be no shade. Walking to school, work, or the shops could become dangerous during the hottest parts of the day. Heat-related illness will also add pressure to the NHS. One study even found that hospital patients recover faster when they can see trees from their window.

The cultural loss would be felt as well. Ancient trees are tied to British history, folklore, and identity. Mr. Pyne points to famous trees like the Sycamore Gap tree and the Major Oak, said to have sheltered the legendary Robin Hood, which died this year. Visiting a National Trust estate without its grand old trees, he says, would feel completely different. Experts agree that protecting and planting trees now is one of the most important steps the UK can take to prepare for a hotter future.