Parts of Wales are officially in drought, with this month on course to be the driest in nearly 200 years. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced on Thursday that record-low river flows, back-to-back heatwaves and widespread wildfires had prompted the declaration in north Wales and the Upper Severn.
The affected areas have received less than 2% of the expected rainfall for July so far. Rivers including the Clwyd, Alwen, Alyn, Clywedog, Dyfi, Conwy and Wye have recorded new monthly minimum flows or are approaching record lows. Several fires were still burning across the country after more than a week, leading the Welsh government to activate crisis plans amid concerns over a lack of firefighting helicopters.
“Drought declared in north Wales and Upper Severn as July set to be driest in nearly 200 years”
But the same sunny weather that has parched the land has produced an unexpectedly sweet harvest. Aldi announced that its British plum grower, WB Chambers Farms, reported high sunshine levels last autumn, record spring sunshine, a cool start to May and a warm June combined to create exceptionally sweet, flavoursome fruit. The supermarket expects to sell up to 700,000 units of British plums this season, available from 22 July until early September.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “This is shaping up to be one of the best British plum seasons we’ve seen for a number of years.” George Beedell, head of business development at WB Chambers Farms, added: “It’s one of those years where everything has come together, and we think shoppers will really notice the difference when they taste this year’s plums.”
While the drought poses serious threats to wildlife and crops, the fruit harvest offers a rare bright spot in a summer defined by extreme heat.