Wildlife hit hard by drought, fires and heat as extremes become ‘new normal’

Meadow pipit on Trentishoe, Exmoor, one of the many places hit by wildfire this year (National Trus/Barry Edwards/PA) -

The UK’s landscapes and wildlife endured drought, heat and fires that gave way to downpours and floods in 2025 as extreme weather becomes the “new normal”.

The National Trust’s annual review of the year for nature warned the latest in a run of recent drought years was putting “untold strain” on habitats and hitting everything from new trees to natterjack toads.