Sharjah24 – AFP: Searing summer temperatures in the UK have not just parched the earth and dried up rivers, lakes and reservoirs but are also seeing trees shed their leaves early.
Instead of green, many gardens, parks and woods are now a sea of orange, yellow, red and brown, with thick carpets of leaves on the ground.
The early leaf fall -- dubbed a "false autumn" -- is a sign of stress, as trees shed their leaves to try to retain moisture.
But experts say while older trees with deep roots can withstand the drier conditions, younger, less established ones could be at risk.
Temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time in Britain in July, with the month the driest on record in many parts of southern and eastern England.
Climate change has been blamed for the searing heatwave, which has led to drought being declared and a ban on the use of hosepipes to save water in some areas.
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