including Beech Bottom Dyke and Sandridge Road Wastes
Several trees on the Heath have succumbed to winter gales, some because of the ‘sail’ effects of ivy and the wind drag it causes, and others, including this dead hawthorn, to old age. This latter tree has fallen across the path along Townsend Drive.
Photo: PC
Remember those days from late March to mid May when grass began to turn yellow and water restrictions were a distinct possibility? There was only 1.5 mm of rain in April, see above. The summer was not particularly dry by comparison to previous years and the year was rounded off with the highest rainfall of the year of 98 mm, including 10 cm of snow on the 10th December.
The highest daily rainfall was 33 mm on May 13th, and of temperatures, the lowest was -5 deg C on January 22nd and the highest 31 deg C on June 19th.
Weather measurements have only been made for the last four years and over that time total yearly rainfall fell from 740 mm to 534 mm. Average temperatures have stayed within a narrow range of less than 1 deg