Chris Bishop

Prolonged drought and repeated heatwaves are causing trees across Norfolk to shed or scorch their leaves unusually early, creating a so-called “false autumn.” Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Royal Horticultural Society experts explain that early leaf loss can help trees conserve water, but repeated drought may weaken them, with shallow-rooted species such as birch, hawthorn and hornbeam especially vulnerable. Climate change is expected to bring more frequent hot, dry periods, threatening trees and dependent wildlife, while planting suitable trees in appropriate locations could improve landscape resilience.