Skip to content

The dried parks and parched lawns of Britain

23 July 2018

This summer many of the UK's outdoor spaces have turned from lush green to a dry, yellow-brown.

These images from the past week demonstrate the dramatic impact that the heatwave is having on the British landscape.

In London's Hyde Park, a couple relax on deckchairs on the arid grass.

Toby Melville/ Reuters A couple relax on deckchairs on parched grass in Hyde Park in London. — In London's Hyde Park, a couple relax on deckchairs on the arid grass.

The UK is officially experiencing its driest start to a summer since modern records began in 1961.

Toby Melville/ Reuters Deckchairs are seen on parched grass in Hyde Park in London. — The UK is officially experiencing its driest start to a summer since modern records began in 1961.

US golfer Tiger Woods plays in the Open Championship. The course, at Carnoustie on the Scottish North Sea coast, has been so baked by the heat that players have had to adjust their game to suit the difficult conditions.

Andrew Yates/ Reuters Golf - The 147th Open Championship - Carnoustie, Britain - July 21, 2018 Tiger Woods of the U.S. in action during the third round — US golfer Tiger Woods plays in the Open Championship. The course, at Carnoustie on the Scottish North Sea coast, has been so baked by the heat that players have had to adjust their game to suit the difficult conditions.

The Copper Horse sculpture sits on top of a very dry Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park.

Geoffrey Swaine/REX/Shutterstock Parched grass at Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park by the Copper horse on a hot day. — The Copper Horse sculpture sits on top of a very dry Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park.

A couple relax while looking over North Devon's Woolacombe Bay, as the beach fills up with people making the most of the hot weather.

Natasha Quarmby/REX/Shutterstock The heatwave continues, and holiday makers flock to the coast of North Devon. — A couple relax while looking over North Devon's Woolacombe Bay, as the beach fills up with people making the most of the hot weather.

A woman sunbathes on the dry grass at Wimbledon Common in London. The Met Office told the BBC there was no "significant sign" of change to the hot weather "any time soon".

Amer Ghazzal/REX/Shutterstock A woman sunbathes on the burnt dry grass on Wimbledon Common in London. — A woman sunbathes on the dry grass at Wimbledon Common in London. The Met Office told the BBC there was no "significant sign" of change to the hot weather "any time soon".

In Dorset, the weather has turned the grass on the common of Portland Bill an entirely different colour.

Stuart Fretwell/REX/Shutterstock The continuing heatwave has turned the grass brown at Portland Bill. — In Dorset, the weather has turned the grass on the common of Portland Bill an entirely different colour.

A man sits on the wicket which he has been keeping green with the help of a hosepipe at Priston Cricket Club, near Bath.

Matt Cardy/ Getty Images A man poses for a photograph at Priston Cricket Club as he sits on the wicket that has been watered by a hosepipe. — A man sits on the wicket which he has been keeping green with the help of a hosepipe at Priston Cricket Club, near Bath.

A dog watches a hosepipe sprinkler in the village of Priston. Hosepipes in the north-west of England will be temporarily banned from 5 August due to worries about water shortages.

Matt Cardy/ Getty Images A dog stands besides a hosepipe sprinkler in a garden of a house in the village of Priston. — A dog watches a hosepipe sprinkler in the village of Priston. Hosepipes in the north-west of England will be temporarily banned from 5 August due to worries about water shortages.

The view down towards the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House in Greenwich Park, London.

Grant Falvey/LNP/REX/Shutterstock Burnt dry grass on Greenwich Park in London. — The view down towards the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House in Greenwich Park, London.

Only certain areas of the lush lawns of Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire, have stayed green in the baking summer heat - with the help of sprinklers.

Geoffrey Swaine/REX/Shutterstock Cliveden House's famous lawns are parched and arid. — Only certain areas of the lush lawns of Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire, have stayed green in the baking summer heat - with the help of sprinklers.

All photographs subject to copyright.