Residents of Histon, a village north of Cambridge, are adapting to a prolonged dry spell, adopting what they describe as a "Mediterranean lifestyle" due to a lack of rainfall stretching over a month. Since January 1, the village has recorded only 196.4 mm of rain, making it the driest location in the United Kingdom according to Met Office data from July 19. This figure is less than half the amount recorded in the same period two years prior.
Since June 26, Histon has received minimal rainfall, with just 0.4 mm recorded at a local monitoring station. The dry conditions have led to a hosepipe ban, in effect since July 9 for the Cambridge Water region. The village green's duck pond is reportedly at its lowest level ever recorded by lifelong resident Julie Dunn, who is among those collecting water from showers and washing-up to irrigate her garden. "We're all going to have to look at different plants and things for our gardens," Dunn stated, noting that many current plants may not withstand the extreme heat and lack of water.
The shift in lifestyle is evident, with residents adjusting their daily schedules. Jo Catterick, 62, described life as having "slowed down," with a culture more akin to Mediterranean practices, such as completing chores early and engaging in activities later in the evening when temperatures are cooler.
Steven Snudden, landlord of the Rose and Crown pub, has observed an increase in beer sales due to thirsty customers, but his pub's garden has suffered. "Not being able to water the lawns has had quite an impact for the pub. It's brown with patches of mud," he said.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden, located nearby, is also feeling the effects. Its rainfall reading of 209.5 mm would place it as the second-lowest nationwide if included in Met Office data. Sally Petitt, the garden's head of horticulture, noted that the facility is increasing its focus on plants adapted to warmer, drier climates, reflecting future climate projections. "We're actually focussing some of our expeditions and plant-collecting trips on countries that have climates similar to that which we're forecast to have in the future," Petitt explained. The garden is also exploring enhanced rainwater harvesting systems.
The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Histon, which measured the village's low rainfall, views the current conditions as a critical real-world test for its research. Ros Lloyd from NIAB highlighted the broader implications for UK agriculture, including reduced crop yields, pressure on water resources, and increased financial uncertainty for farmers. "As weather patterns become more unpredictable, understanding how to maintain productive and profitable farming systems under these conditions is becoming increasingly important," Lloyd stated. NIAB's work on drought tolerance and climate change impacts on crop production is particularly relevant, offering a backdrop to study crop responses to water stress and identify traits for resilience, ultimately supporting the development of more robust farming systems.
Met Office data from July 19 indicated the driest locations in Britain for the year so far, with Cambridge's NIAB site leading the list at 196.4 mm. Other notably dry locations included Shoeburyness in Essex and several sites in Norfolk.