It's been Britain's driest start to summer in modern records, leaving farmers with parched crops and water companies enforcing hosepipe bans. And these alarming photographs show how Britain's green land is turning yellow as the country endures its longest heatwave since 1976, which has seen several places have 55 consecutive dry days since the start of June. Old Harry Rocks on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset are known for the beautiful contrast between the white chalk cliffs and the green grass above, but new photographs show how the landscape is now bone dry.
Local photographer Andy Lyons took the latest pictures, standing in the same spot with his camera drone as he had done a year ago when the clifftop and rolling hills beyond were bright green. But experts say despite its current state, the grass is incredibly resilient and will bounce back. Elaine Jewkes, of the British Grassland Society, said: 'We're in a drought scenario and grass everywhere is brown and yellow as sand. Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done but the grass is a perennial crop that will always bounce back. In this case, I imagine the grass will have been there for a long time and will have a good root system.' This will help it survive and once there is a bit of rain, you can expect it to be green again. Only in very very extreme scenarios will you see grass die as its roots will generally find enough moisture to keep it alive.'
Many of London's parks have also been photographed in the dry weather looking parched, while reservoirs have also been pictured bone dry as water companies battle to avoid hosepipe bans. The Met Office said several places have had 55 consecutive dry days, starting on May 30, including a few which have had less than 1mm (0.04in) of rain in the entire period. This is the longest spell since 1969 when 70 days passed with no significant rainfall. The longest run of days with no rain at all this summer so far is 49 days at Brooms Barn, near Bury St Edmunds, since June 5.