Britain's trees have turned a sea of orange and dropped their leaves as extreme temperatures and drought has caused - a 'false autumn'.
Stunning pictures showed tree canopies bursting with fiery red tones and forest floors blanketed with golden leaves.
The unexpected seasonal shift came three weeks early, showing the effects of an exceptionally dry summer.
Heatwaves and drought have pushed Britain's trees into 'survival mode', experts revealed.
In the events made more likely by climate change, some trees are abandoning their normal seasonal cycle and closing down early in an attempt to survive by saving water and energy.
Leaves turning prematurely brown and being shed are signs that a tree is stressed and attempting to conserve water that would otherwise be lost in the normal process of photosynthesis.
A leading local nature conservation charity said it was a problem that's especially apparent in young trees which lack the deep root systems that older trees use to reach water.
Devon Wildlife Trust is now warning that this 'false autumn' may also be a sign of wider problems for wildlife in a few months' time when October and November arrive.
The usual bounty of wild foods might already be diminished, leaving a real risk of shortage for birds and other mammals.
The charity has seen evidence of the 'false autumn' at many of the 60 nature reserves it manages across the county.
Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey said: "Many trees are also shedding their leaves two or even three months ahead of when we'd expect them to.
"A member of our nature reserves' team told me that in the 30 years he's been working on his sites he's never known it to be drier and for so many trees to have experienced leaf loss so early in the year.
"For some trees this may be the last straw - the long dry spell will mean they won't be able to survive."
He added: "For others, it could mean they are weakened and more open to tree diseases in the future."
Conservation charities like Devon Wildlife (DWT) and the Woodland Trust have also received its earliest ever report in June of ripe blackberries in the south of England.
Researchers also found evidence of elder and holly fruiting earlier than usual from their findings.
Hawthorn berries, hazelnuts and other fruits are also amongst those appearing much earlier than usual.
Other reports have suggested that the lack of rain in the summer has also made many wild fruits smaller and 'less juicy' than normal.
Despite some recent rainfall, DWT is advising that the public continue to put out a regular supply of water in their gardens and make sure this is available at ground level for animals.
This includes hedgehogs and badgers as well as bird baths off the ground.
Steve added: "Nature's timing is everything for our wildlife.
The climate crisis is bringing with it seasonal weather patterns which our wildlife is just not adapted to.
"Our long, hot summer and the 'false autumn' will have a knock-on for many species right into the real autumn months and beyond."
