With hosepipe bans coming into force across a swathe of southern England on 5 April the one thing that the affected area needed was a wet April … and with uncanny prescience that’s exactly what we are ‘enjoying’.
And it is a case of history repeating itself. Back in 1976 we were enduring an earlier record-breaking drought; one that prompted the Government of the day to appoint Denis Howell as minister for drought … it worked the rains came shortly afterwards. In 1995 I was working for the RSPB in Yorkshire and remember giving an interview about the severity of that year’s drought as the rain hammered down.
Here’s me on the RSPB Nature’s Voice podcast 'A Drought for all Seasons' recorded as the rain fell.
So all will be well then?
Well not exactly. The current rain is a huge benefit river flows are benefiting, farmers are helped and the awakening of spring will suck up the moisture eagerly. For wetlands and wetland wildlife short-term fears of a drought-stressed breeding season are receding.
For now.
On our nature reserves we’ve been planning to cope with drier times (as climate change will mean more drier summers) – this has put us in a good position to make the most of the April’s abundant showers. But just because it's raining doesn't mean the drought is over.
One special wetland – the Somerset Levels – is a case in point. Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, recently visited the Somerset Levels to see work being undertaken by the Somerset Drainage Boards to manage water in this internationally important wetland.
'Wet' Sedgemoor - current rains are welcome but are insufficient to tackle the drought. Photo Chris Gomersall, RSPB Images
The minister was shown around West Sedgemoor, Southlake Moor and Kings Sedgemoor, where the Parrett Drainage Board has recently modernised water level management systems for wetland wildlife and farming. He was also taken to see the cranes introduced as part of the Great Crane Project.
Phil Brewin, from the Drainage Board said; “We have been working with farmers, and conservation organisations like the RSPB, to change the way we manage water in important wetlands on the Levels. This has taken a long time to achieve, but we are finally seeing the benefits of having more flexible and efficient water management systems for responding to both droughts and floods.”
His visit coincided with increasing concerns about environmental drought and its effect on places such as the Somerset Levels.
Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB said; “With an environmental drought declared recently, everyone is keenly aware how precious water is and the RSPB welcome calls for its wise use. The Drainage Boards have done a lot of good work recently to ensure water is where it needs to be on the Levels, working for both wildlife and for farmers. The RSPB congratulates them, and welcome’s the minister’s endorsement through this visit.”
“The last two years have been exceptionally dry and if the drought continues it will start to take its toll on wetlands in the region with dry conditions threatening to impact this spring’s breeding season in places such as the Somerset Levels and around the Exe Estuary. These are some of the last remaining homes in our countryside for breeding water birds such as snipe, redshank and lapwing.”
But the rains will need to go on and on – into and through next winter if they are to counter the deficit created by two dry winters in succession.
Rain is dreadful PR for a drought – that isn’t in doubt. But the underlying problems are still there. Much of England is still short of water and prudent measures that we can all take are vital individual steps that will help in the long run.
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