Heatwave wipes out peony crop for Lincolnshire grower as UK records hottest summer
Met Office data show a mean of 16.5 °C, 71.3% of England in drought and an ECIU estimate of £390 million loss to arable farmers
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A heatwave that pushed UK temperatures to a record mean has left flower growers with empty fields, and a fourth‑generation grower in Lincolnshire says his peony season was wiped out. George Stevens of Stevens of Sibsey told BBC London that temperatures jumped from 14 °C to 30 °C within days in May, leaving the soil too dry for seeds to germinate and forcing costly irrigation.
Heat records and drought extent
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Met Office provisional figures put summer 2026 as the UK's warmest since records began in 1884, with a mean temperature of 16.5 °C, as reported by BBC London. The same outlet noted that England and Wales recorded their driest July on record, and the National Drought Group reported that 71.3% of England was in drought by 10 August, affecting more than 27 million people under water restrictions.
Financial strain on growers
Stevens said the sudden heat forced him to irrigate his fields at a cost he describes as "fortunes". He warned that the expense is pushing growers to the point where they question whether continuing is still profitable. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, cited by BBC London, estimates the heat and drought could cost arable farmers up to £390 million in lost revenue in 2026.
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"By the time you've done it, you're near the point of 'is it still profitable to keep going, and where's the cut‑off point?'"
George Stevens, fourth‑generation grower
Impact on UK flower supply
The loss of domestic crops comes as British‑grown cut flowers already make up a small share of the market. Flowers from the Farm estimates that about 90% of flowers sold through UK florists, supermarkets and wholesalers are imported, mainly from the Netherlands, Kenya, Ecuador, Colombia and Ethiopia. Organisers of the Chiswick Flower Market said several growers have dropped out this summer because they had nothing to bring.
No immediate policy response has been announced, but growers like Stevens say they will need longer‑term support to maintain soil health and manage water use. The market organisers plan to monitor attendance for the next monthly event and will report any further drop‑outs.
Questions this report answers
+What temperature did the Met Office record for summer 2026?
Met Office provisional figures put the mean temperature for summer 2026 at 16.5 °C, making it the warmest summer on record since observations began in 1884, as reported by BBC London.
+How much of England was in drought by 10 August?
The National Drought Group reported that 71.3% of England was in drought by 10 August, affecting more than 27 million people, according to BBC London.
+How much could the heat and drought cost arable farmers?
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates the heat and drought could cost arable farmers up to £390 million in lost revenue for 2026, as cited by BBC London.
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