This summer’s drought has had a huge impact on farmers across the UK, and my heart goes out to them. The same can be said of smallholders like me. Although on a much smaller scale than traditional farmers, many smallholders have suffered greatly because of the lack of rain.

Wildfires across the country have been an added worry, causing further stress to those already at breaking point.

Whilst I don’t live in an area with a hosepipe ban, I am acutely aware of the enormous problem the lack of rain has caused the country so far this year, and I do my best to conserve as much water as I can whilst ensuring the animals have all they need to remain healthy and hydrated. Filling up and changing the water in the buckets is always a source of guilt. Whilst the animals need to drink, I also try to ensure that the water I replace with fresh is used effectively, so instead of tipping it out onto the ground, I try to empty it into the wildlife pond or use it to water the fruit trees and vegetable patch. Fresh water is essential for the animals, so it is vital that water buckets are cleaned and filled with fresh water daily, sometimes twice a day depending on the weather. The donkeys, in particular, will not drink water that isn’t fresh, going as far as to become ill with dehydration before succumbing to drinking stagnant water. Of course, no animal should be expected to drink water that has been left to stagnate, and the health risks of not replenishing it are huge, including the build-up of bacteria, the growth of algae and the laying of eggs by various flies and insects. Dehydration is likely to be the outcome, as animals will not drink stagnant water.

Aside from keeping the animals hydrated, other drought-related problems involve keeping them safe. With the ground scorched, deep cracks have begun to appear in the paddocks, distorting the fences and gates, which must be checked and realigned constantly to ensure they close properly and that slackened fence wires do not pose a danger to livestock. The scorched paddocks, of course, also mean a complete lack of grass, which has resulted in me having to feed the hay I bought in for the winter months now; in turn, this will mean an added expense, as I will have to buy more hay than I would normally. Inevitably, this hay will be more expensive because of its scarcity and the fact that farmers will need to prioritise their own livestock before selling any surplus to smallholders like me.

The wildlife pond is also suffering. The lack of rain and prolonged dry spells have left it beginning to dry out. Despite its size, the water level is clearly dropping, and I have had to top it up on numerous occasions to protect the fish and other wildlife who call it home.

Using tap water to top up ponds is never ideal; however, this summer it has been necessary to protect the inhabitants. Tap water contains chlorine and additional nutrients that can be harmful to small creatures; it can also cause green algae and weeds to grow in the pond. However, in cases of extreme weather, as we have been experiencing this summer, I have found myself with little choice, as rainwater has been non-existent.

According to the Met Office, July this year brought unprecedented sunshine, exceptional warmth, and record-breaking dryness. It has been a historic month, the driest on record for England and Wales.

A lack of rain for any length of time brings a huge amount of stress and worry to those who keep animals. Whilst we love to moan about the weather, often in winter when we have endless rain, I, for one, would be happy for a week of downpours right now.




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