Water levels at a Preston beauty spot are at a ‘historic low’ as the country continues through ‘significant water shortfall’.
Meadow Lake at Brockholes Nature Reserve is one of the most eye-catching places in the area, not least thanks to its ‘floating’ visitor village with a shop and café.
But that view has somewhat dried up this summer thanks to one of the warmest, and driest, summers on record.
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A spokesperson for Brockholes said: “If you’ve visited us recently you may have noticed that the water’s of Meadow Lake are at a historic low.
“To illustrate the severity of the low water levels our Marketing Officer Matthew ventured into Meadow Lake (please do not try this yourself), and walked where water would usually be abundant.”
You can support Brockholes and their work through The Wildlife Trust here.
Rainfall this summer is tracking below average with 72% of the usual average recorded, compared to the usual 85% at this stage, the Met Office said.
The North West has been less affected by this, but it comes on the back of England’s driest spring in more than 100 years.
The National Drought Group met last week to address a ‘nationally significant’ water shortfall, saying that rainstorms and showers helped ‘mask’ the fact that July was still the fifth warmest on record.
Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the group, said: “The current situation is nationally significant, and we are calling on everyone to play their part and help reduce the pressure on our water environment.
“Water companies must continue to quickly fix leaks and lead the way in saving water. We know the challenges farmers are facing and will continue to work with them, other land users, and businesses to ensure everyone acts sustainably.
“We are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to conserve water in these dry conditions. Simple, everyday choices – such as turning off a tap or deleting old emails – also really helps the collective effort to reduce demand and help preserve the health of our rivers and wildlife.”
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