Drought declared in half of England as shooting season nears

Half of England is officially in drought, the Environment Agency confirmed on 29 July, with seven areas from East Anglia to Devon and Cornwall moved into drought status after record low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures. The declaration lands days before the start of the grouse season, with 110 wildfires already recorded on protected sites this year and no substantial rain in the forecast.

Which areas of England are now in drought?

The seven areas in drought are East Anglia; Hertfordshire and London; the Thames Valley; Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; the West Midlands; and Wessex, covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.

A further six areas, including Kent and East Sussex, Cumbria and Lancashire and the East Midlands, are classed as in prolonged dry weather. Only Yorkshire and the North East remain in normal status.

The Environment Agency describes the situation as a flash drought, one that develops very quickly through a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures. July has seen just 7% of its expected rain, falling to 1% across southern England, and parts of Devon have gone 50 days without a rain day. It is England’s third drought in five years, after 2022 and 2025.

What does the drought mean for shoots and moors?

Wildfire risk is rising just as gamekeepers make their final preparations for the new season. The agency confirmed there have been 110 wildfires on Sites of Special Scientific Interest so far this year, including at Dovestone and Tintwistle in the Peak District, in a summer that has repeatedly seen keepers alongside fire crews on moorland firelines.

Water for wildlife is under pressure too. Some 78% of England’s rivers are now below normal, a sixth are exceptionally low, and the Thames at Reading and the Cam at Dernford in Cambridgeshire are tracking their lowest flows on record for the time of year. Low flows have triggered 1,506 abstraction licence restrictions, farm storage reservoirs are declining rapidly, and the agency has carried out 38 fish rescues, moving hundreds of brown trout, juvenile salmon and grayling.

Seven water companies have introduced temporary use bans covering 23 million customers, around 40% of England’s population, and reservoir storage across England has fallen to 75.3%, some 7.4% below the long-term average.

How serious is a second consecutive summer drought?

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it. A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.”

Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, warned there is little relief in sight: “While there are indications of occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations, there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.”

Emma Hardy, the water minister, said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.”

What happens next?

The National Drought Group, which brings together the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers and conservation bodies, held a dedicated drought briefing with the water minister on 28 July, and water companies have been told to prioritise fixing leaks. Cross-government work is under way to secure supplies into the autumn.

A fourth heatwave is under way, and the UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat alerts for the East Midlands, the East of England, London and the South East. Anyone who sees fish in distress can report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

The full drought announcement, including the current water situation area by area, can be read on the Defra and Environment Agency pages at gov.uk.

Links

• Environment Agency
• Defra (full announcement)
• Met Office

Frequently asked questions

Which areas of England are officially in drought?

East Anglia; Hertfordshire and London; the Thames Valley; Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; the West Midlands; and Wessex. Six further areas are in prolonged dry weather, with only Yorkshire and the North East in normal status.

Is there a hosepipe ban in England?

Seven water companies – Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water and South West Water – have temporary use bans in place, covering 23 million customers, around 40% of England’s population.

How many wildfires have there been on protected sites in 2026?

The Environment Agency reports 110 wildfires on Sites of Special Scientific Interest so far this year, including at Dovestone and Tintwistle in the Peak District.