Gardener's World presenter Monty Don has managed to keep his Herefordshire home, Longmeadow, lush and green despite the United Kingdom experiencing a record-breaking drought. The estate, familiar to viewers of the BBC program, contrasts sharply with many surrounding areas that have turned yellow and brown due to the dry conditions.
While several water companies have implemented hosepipe bans affecting millions of customers, areas in Herefordshire, where Don's property is located, have not faced such restrictions. Severn Trent Water, which covers parts of the region, has not imposed a ban, and Welsh Water has only done so in its Welsh territories. The broadcaster and his wife Sarah have owned the two-acre property since 1991, dividing it into various themed garden areas, including a Cottage Garden, Jewel Garden, and an Islamic-inspired Paradise Garden.
Don's ability to maintain his garden's vibrancy is shared by other notable figures. Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster's Essex home has also appeared lush, as have the grounds of Jeremy Clarkson's pub in the Cotswolds. Clarkson attributed his pub's green lawns to using a borehole, a water source not subject to government restrictions, a method he suggests Stewart might also be employing.
In contrast, Sir Paul McCartney's East Sussex estate shows signs of the heatwave, with swathes of brown grass, adhering to a hosepipe ban imposed by South East Water. Chef Jamie Oliver's lawns remain greener due to a large private lake on his property, a resource exempt from hosepipe restrictions. Keith Richards' West Sussex home, however, shows struggling grass without a visible private water source.
The UK has endured its driest July on record, with southern England experiencing its driest month ever, according to historical data. This has led to widespread drought declarations and water restrictions. Wessex Water recently announced its first hosepipe ban since the 1976 heatwave, impacting 1.4 million customers.
However, the Met Office forecasts a shift in weather patterns, with cooler conditions and rain expected across the UK. Showers are anticipated to move from Northern Ireland and Scotland towards southern England and Wales, potentially bringing much-needed relief. Despite the forecast for rain, including the possibility of surface flooding in some areas due to the dry ground, temperatures are expected to return closer to seasonal averages. The current period follows the UK's fifth heatwave of the summer, which saw temperatures reach 38.1C in Kew Gardens, London.