As the United Kingdom grapples with a record-breaking drought and widespread hosepipe bans, some prominent figures are finding ways to maintain lush gardens, often through exemptions that allow the use of private water sources. Chef Jamie Oliver is among those whose gardens remain verdant, thanks to a personal lake on his 70-acre estate in Essex. Under current regulations, water drawn from private sources like lakes, ponds, springs, or wells is exempt from hosepipe bans.
Oliver, who purchased the Grade I listed 12-bedroom property in 2019, has been seen using a long yellow pipe to draw water from the feature to irrigate his grounds. This allows his gardens to remain a stark contrast to the parched countryside surrounding his home. Oliver is 51.
Other celebrities are also managing to keep their gardens well-watered. Sir Rod Stewart's Grade II-listed mansion in Essex boasts extremely green gardens, including a mini-golf course and an artificial football pitch. While his property is supplied by Affinity Water, which implemented a ban in the region on July 17, there is no evidence of a breach. Exemptions or the use of watering cans are possible workarounds.
In contrast, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, 82, is reportedly unable to maintain his garden's greenery as effectively. His West Sussex property, the Redlands Estate, shows dry and brown grass in areas not immediately surrounding the house. Without a visible private water source, Richards cannot utilize exemptions similar to Oliver's, and a hosepipe ban came into effect in his county on July 25.
The UK is experiencing its hottest summer on record, with provisional data indicating the mean temperature from June 1 to August 10 is 16.48C, 1.88C above the 1991-2020 average. This figure is on track to surpass the previous record set in 2025. Drought has been declared for all of Wales and nearly three-quarters of England. Meteorologists anticipate that if August temperatures remain only slightly below average, a new record for the warmest summer will be set.
The extreme heat and dry conditions have led to numerous impacts across the country. Rainfall in July was significantly below average, ranging from 1% of the norm in the South East to 26% in the North West. Farmers are reporting a difficult harvest and shortages of feed for livestock, with potential implications for food prices.
Firefighters have been battling wildfires, including one in the New Forest National Park. The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for central and southern England, predicting temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday, with a peak of 38C (100F) possible. Such temperatures would place this event among the joint fifth hottest days recorded in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency has also activated amber heat health alerts for much of England, warning of potential increases in mortality.
This summer's extreme weather follows two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June, which were linked to over 2,800 deaths, and subsequent heatwaves in July. The current heatwave is expected to subside over the weekend, bringing cooler air and rain, though this is unlikely to compensate for the overall rainfall deficit. Forecasts for the remainder of August and into September suggest a continuation of dry weather interspersed with unsettled periods, with below-average rainfall more likely than above-average.