Parched plants on chalk

[Wild-Woman]

A friend of mine visited an area of chalk downland today and said that all the usual flowers were suffering in this super dry spell. He said that most had already gone over and were just dry crispy patches.
This isn't going to help our downland insects and butterflies I fear.
If you're near downland, how's your patch doing?

[tom00_uk]

though were not on chalk the grass land and agricultural land around here even close to the river is looking very poor,

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

A friend of mine visited an area of chalk downland today and said that all the usual flowers were suffering in this super dry spell. He said that most had already gone over and were just dry crispy patches.
This isn't going to help our downland insects and butterflies I fear.
If you're near downland, how's your patch doing?

During the severe drought of 1976 virtually all plants on chalk in the South of England appeared dead by mid June. Everything was brown and crisp. Lawns had no visible growing grass. This continued throughout the summer.
Yet the following years were better than ever for chalk plants.
Overpowering grasses were thinned-out alowing annuals to thrive. Some of the best displays of chalk-grassland flowers in living memory were seen in the late 70's and early 80's following that dry summer.

So don't panic, in my opinion it can be a blessing in diguise.
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

I was at the steep chalk escarpment of Denbies near Dorking last Saturday + the flora was looking better than I thought it would. Still plenty of green showing, though some rain would come in handy.

Guess there could be some short term impacts on some invertebrates, though these weather conditions are regular further south in Europe where there are many more species of butterfly + other insects than we have.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Dorts

During the severe drought of 1976 virtually all plants on chalk in the South of England appeared dead by mid June. Everything was brown and crisp. Lawns had no visible growing grass. This continued throughout the summer.
Yet the following years were better than ever for chalk plants.
Overpowering grasses were thinned-out alowing annuals to thrive. Some of the best displays of chalk-grassland flowers in living memory were seen in the late 70's and early 80's following that dry summer.

So don't panic, in my opinion it can be a blessing in diguise.
Dorts.

Thanks for this Dorts. Some encouraging information. Lets hope the pattern is the same.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I was at the steep chalk escarpment of Denbies near Dorking last Saturday + the flora was looking better than I thought it would. Still plenty of green showing, though some rain would come in handy.

Guess there could be some short term impacts on some invertebrates, though these weather conditions are regular further south in Europe where there are many more species of butterfly + other insects than we have.

I suppose they've evolved to cope. Perhaps they can switch plant species and are able to nectar on plants that are better suited to drought conditions?

[turntostone]

Im off to the Breckland of Suffolk next week. Planned tip from ages ago.
But not sure how the plants are going to have coped. Its dry there at the best of times.

Gordon

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by turntostone

Im off to the Breckland of Suffolk next week. Planned tip from ages ago.
But not sure how the plants are going to have coped. Its dry there at the best of times.
Gordon

Nowhere drier- holds all the records I believe, and also some very special plants!
Hope you have a good trip. Look forward to some pics.
Dorts.