In February, England had 170% of its average rainfall. By 10 August, 71.3% of the country was in drought
That contrast sums up the challenge facing farms and rural estates. For much of England, the issue is less how much rain falls than when it falls: the water arrives in winter and is needed in summer. The farms best placed for the years ahead will be the ones that can bridge that gap. With the right design, the same body of water can also produce a second income.
Sources: Met Office, 1 September 2026 (provisional); Environment Agency, 10 August 2026; Defra, 15 August 2026; pv magazine, 6 February 2023.