Across the UK, extreme heat and drought are becoming a lived reality. This summer, temperatures have repeatedly climbed above 30°C, while prolonged dry weather has left rivers, ponds, wetlands and soils under pressure. July 2026 was the driest July on record in England, receiving just 8% of its average rainfall.

And when our landscapes dry out, the impacts are felt far beyond people.

Wildlife needs water, shade, food and shelter to survive. When these disappear, animals are forced to travel further, plants struggle to flower and set seed, and habitats become increasingly vulnerable to fire.

We have made our landscapes drier

Part of the problem is that we have spent centuries changing our landscapes to move water away as quickly as possible.

Britain has lost around 90% of its wetlands, while hundreds of thousands of ponds have disappeared. Rivers have been straightened, channelled and dredged, and drainage systems have been installed across farmland. Our upland peatlands have been drained and degraded, despite their natural ability to hold huge quantities of water.

The result is a landscape that can struggle to hold onto water when it rains — and struggles to provide it when we need it most.

This matters because healthy, functioning ecosystems can help us adapt to a changing climate. Wetlands, ponds, peatlands, healthy soils, woodlands and rivers can all slow the movement of water, store carbon and provide cooler, wetter places for wildlife.

Instead of seeing nature recovery as something separate from climate adaptation, we need to recognise that the two are deeply connected.

From drought to wildfire

The consequences of prolonged dry weather are becoming increasingly visible.

More than 21,000 hectares of British countryside have already been affected by wildfires this year, following record-breaking fires in 2025. Across Europe, devastating wildfires have also shown just how dangerous prolonged heat and drought can become.

It can be tempting to look at vegetation, scrub or deadwood and see them simply as potential fuel for fire. But removing wildlife habitat is not a long-term solution to the climate conditions driving wildfire risk.

There is a role for carefully planned fire management and fire breaks in appropriate locations. But a landscape stripped of its natural habitats is not necessarily a more resilient landscape.

The bigger challenge is creating landscapes that can retain moisture, withstand extremes and recover from them.

What does drought mean for wildlife?

For wildlife, drought isn't simply about a lack of rain.

Ponds can shrink or disappear. Flowers can stop producing nectar. Grasses become scorched. Insects can struggle to find food and suitable conditions, which in turn affects the birds, bats and other animals that depend on them.

Small mammals and hedgehogs may have to travel further to find food and water. Bees and other insects can become more vulnerable to heat, while amphibians and aquatic species are particularly dependent on remaining sources of water.

In a drought, even small patches of habitat can become incredibly important.

That means the actions we take in our gardens, community spaces, farms and local green spaces can make a real difference.

Helping wildlife through hot and dry weather

There are things we can do right now to make our gardens and community spaces more wildlife-friendly during periods of drought.

Think bigger than the garden

Individual actions matter, but we also need to think about the landscapes around us.

Restoring wetlands, re-wetting peatlands, bringing back ponds, improving soil health and restoring natural river processes can all help landscapes hold onto water for longer.

And here in Shropshire, restoring nature isn't just about helping wildlife. It is about making our communities more resilient to the extremes of weather that are becoming increasingly common.

Healthy rivers and wetlands can help reduce flooding. Healthy soils can hold more water. Trees and vegetation can provide shade and cooling. Peatlands can store carbon and water. And species such as beavers can help create wetter, more diverse landscapes by slowing the movement of water through the places they live.

We need to stop thinking about water as something that should simply be moved away as quickly as possible.

Sometimes, the best thing we can do is let nature hold onto it.

A wetter, wilder future

The climate is changing, and extreme heat and drought are likely to become an increasingly familiar part of British summers.

But we are not powerless.

We can restore the habitats we have lost. We can make space for wetlands, ponds, trees, scrub and longer grass. We can protect our rivers and peatlands. We can manage land in ways that help it retain water rather than rapidly losing it.

And we can give wildlife a helping hand in our own gardens and communities.

The answer to a hotter, drier future isn't less nature. It's more of it.