A warning has been issued about the impacts of dry weather on local farmers and wildlife as nearly three quarters of England enters drought status.

According to a statement yesterday from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), 71.3% of the country is facing a flash drought, with 45 million people living in affected areas.

The statement confirmed that a flash drought occurs very quickly under conditions of very low rainfall and raised temperatures.

It highlighted that water resources are under pressure in all regions, meaning more than 27 million people are facing restrictions on water use. As a result, the National Drought Group has cautioned that there are ‘increasing impacts’ on agriculture, public supplies, navigation, and the environment.

As of yesterday, the East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire, Kent & East Sussex, and Solent & the South Downs were the latest areas to reach drought status.

Tony Grayling, Strategic Drought Lead at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said: ‘We know the hot and dry weather is taking a real toll on farming and there will be long-lasting impacts on our environment. 

‘We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated over the summer, but we need everyone’s help in using a little less water to make sure our current water reserves last. Every drop we can save is a drop more for your local farmers, local wildlife and local rivers.’

The group is undertaking work such as increased incident response, additional monitoring, greater leakage reduction, and boosted cross-sector and public communication.

Water Minister Emma Hardy has also called on water companies to go further in their efforts to cut leaks, while the Government has provided reassurance that it is exploring how to deliver further support to the farming sector.