The government has warned that wildlife in England and Wales will be affected for years to come by the ongoing drought. This summer, large parts of England and all of Wales experienced a serious drought, with both regions recording their driest Julys since records began in 1836.
The lack of rainfall, combined with successive heatwaves and new temperature records, has strained water supplies. Demand for water increased by as much as 30% on the hottest days. Scientists have attributed this extreme weather to the climate crisis.
Despite recent rainfall, the National Drought Group reported that groundwater storage and reservoir levels continue to decline. England’s reservoir storage is currently 19.7% below average for this time of year, with most reservoirs notably or exceptionally low.
Tony Grayling, chair of the drought group and strategic lead for drought at the Environment Agency, stated that the environmental impacts will continue to increase. He added that the effects on wildlife populations and ecosystems will last for years, with recovery depending on both rainfall and water demand.
So far this year, 349 environmental incidents have been recorded, surpassing the 321 incidents in 2025. These include algal blooms, fish deaths, water quality issues, and low flows. Natural England noted that breeding waders and specialist wetland invertebrates have struggled, and some species-rich environments have dried out completely.
Natural England is developing a research and monitoring programme to assess the full impact of drought and wildfire, as serious consequences may not be apparent until future growing seasons. Oliver Harmar, chief strategy officer at Natural England, emphasised the need for nature-based solutions to adapt landscapes to the growing threat of drought.
The drought group has indicated that months of significant and sustained rainfall are needed for the drought to end. The Environment Agency recently stated that 120% of average rainfall is required over the next seven months for the entire country to be out of drought by next spring. Grayling urged continued wise water use to aid environmental recovery.