SIGNS of a ‘false autumn’ are appearing around the Island as stressed trees drop their leaves early – and even lose whole branches – because of the drought.
Some larger trees, such as oak and beech, are dropping huge limbs in a desperate bid to survive.
The phenomenon – called ‘summer tree branch drop’ – results in a parched tree ‘sacrificing part of its crown to help the rest survive’, according to Conrad Evans, from the National Trust for Jersey.
He said: ‘They think it happens on the hottest, most still days. A few big limbs suddenly come off and land on the ground. It’s believed to be a survival strategy. It is a recognised phenomenon and the National Trust have had a few reports of big limbs coming off their trees suddenly in the woodlands recently.’
Mr Evans – who co-ordinates the trust’s hedge fund project planting thousands of trees – added: ‘I’ve seen quite a few sycamore that have shed their leaves and their bark is peeling off already. We usually see this around October time but seeing it in the middle of August means the trees are showing signs of stress.’
He said that the recent spell of damp weather was helpful but it would take weeks of rain to revive them.
‘It’s in the lap of the gods. We need more constant rain now.
‘Sweet chestnut trees are more hardy but they’re also losing their leaves. Some elder are wilting and even woodland plants are being affected,’ said Mr Evans.
‘Being in the shade, you would expect them to survive but the ground is just so dry now.’
He explained that between 5 and 10% of trees, which have been newly planted as part of the hedge fund project he co-ordinates, have already died despite the recent drop in the temperature and the damper conditions.
‘We are doing our best to keep on top of it, but some of the ones we planted last winter have died. We’ve got too many to water and this has been such an extreme year.
‘We’re hoping the pretty small trees have just gone into dormancy and will revive when we have a lot of rain.’
But Mr Evans added that the wildlife which depended on the trees and hedgerows should not be threatened, as the fruit produced, such as blackberries, have been early but ‘it is still a really good crop’.
