Heatwaves in Britain have led to a stress response in trees in the country, causing early leaf fall and creating the illusion that autumn has begun.
Fruit ripening as early as June and leaves turning yellow and orange well before the end of Summer are also signs of the high temperatures and lack of water in the environment. If rain falls soon the trees may recover, but if it comes too late, the drought and associated stress may lead to tree death.
These ‘false Autumn’ impacts are part of a bigger climate change picture:
” Droughts are not unknown in Britain…But increasingly they are occurring in the context of a climate emergency, and unprecedented heat.”
www.theguardian.com
If you would like to learn more, you can read this article.