John
Whilst undoubtedly we will lose some trees through the drought conditions, the situation may not be as bad as is feared. Fred?s correct, trees throw off their leaves in droughts and shutdown. As in winter the only life in the tree remains in the root ball stock. They go into emergency life support mode. A bit like humans when they get very cold, all the heat generated in the human body withdraws to protect the core organs heart, lungs, liver, etc. But again like humans if relief doesn?t come in the form of heat or in the case of trees, water, they die.
However the tree Ian talks about is dead. End of!
There is an upside to this drought?.the Manchester Poplar Populus nigra betulifolia throughout the NW has been suffering with a disease called Ventura for 5 years and many have died. The Experts said it was likely they?d all die if we didn?t get several summers of hot weather, we?ve had them over the last two years, and many trees that were on their last legs are well on the way to recovery. Those that were less affected have as good as recovered.
Another year of hot weather and the stocks will be safe from what is a very virulent disease with a 90% kill rate.
So what some might say, ?they?re only scraggy pops!? Well 1. They?re British native trees 2. They?re one of rarest native British trees, of which half the national stock (7000) is in Manchester and were threatened with the disease and felling by the City council because of it.
That from maintaining a native biodiversity point of view both here in M/C and the nation as a whole is a good news story from this drought. Interestingly, many butterflies that were only ever seen in the south have been seen more northward over the last two summers.