Pictures show scale of drought across England as rivers dry up
Drought has been officially declared across more than half of England following prolonged dry weather and record-breaking heat. The lack of rainfall has caused rivers to recede and parks to wither, marking the third drought in five years.
Why it matters
Frequent droughts in the UK signal a shift in climate patterns that threatens water security and agricultural stability.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A golfing green surrounded by dried grass in Dorset, just one of the areas declared to be in drought on Wednesday
Drought has been declared across more than half of England as hot, dry weather takes its toll on the country's water supplies.
The announcement means there have been three droughts in the past five years - 2022, 2025 and now 2026.
Photos from across the country have captured some of the dry conditions - including receding rivers, parched parks and sportspeople trying to play on.
Image source, Anadolu via Getty Images There is no single definition of drought, but it usually refers to a period of prolonged unusually dry weather that can have impacts on people, nature and the environment.
A lack of rainfall has meant rivers have lowered, including the River Thames, exposing the riverbed in London.
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