'I have never seen the pond so low in 17 years'
James Herd, who works for Surrey Wildlife Trust, says everyone needs to prepare for extreme weather.
A Surrey pond near RHS Garden Wisley is at its lowest level in nearly 17 years, according to James Herd, director of reserves management at Surrey Wildlife Trust. The pond at Pond Farm on Wisley Common has been drying up as the hot weather persists, Herd told the report. He has never seen the pond so low in his 17-year tenure with the organization.
The UK has experienced its fifth heatwave of the year, with meteorologists at Wisley recording no rainfall for over 50 days. Signs of struggle among plants and trees near the drying pond indicate the impact of the prolonged drought, Herd noted. Trees in some habitats are shedding leaves prematurely, a self-protective measure. Herd emphasizes the need for measures to prepare for long periods of dry weather, as this summer is not an isolated event.
He suggests exploring nature's solutions, such as reintroducing beavers, which can help rewet lowland heathland, a rare habitat found on acidic and nutrient-poor soils. Surrey Wildlife Trust is considering a license to release beavers, but the idea is still in the planning stages.
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