- Severe drought conditions at the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire have resulted in zero hay yields from meadows that typically produce 150 tonnes.
- Stalled grass growth has forced farmers at the 1,200-hectare organic estate to begin using winter feed for livestock months ahead of schedule.
- The drought has reduced grain yields by around 25 per cent and dramatically lowered straw production while placing severe stress on wildlife habitats and trees.
- The National Trust is accelerating climate resilience initiatives on the estate, including planting 125,000 trees, trialling drought-tolerant crops, and selective livestock breeding.
- The conservation charity is calling on the UK government to make climate resilience a Cabinet-level national mission and invest in nature as critical infrastructure.
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