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It's hot, but there are ripe berries and fallen leaves. Is fall approaching too soon?


 


Some tree leaves are turning yellow, and blackberries in hedges are so ripe they taste like alcohol, even though it's still hot in many parts of the UK.

Because withering branches can fall quickly, London councils have issued "do not sit under trees" advisories.

What's happening? Is it already fall, or is it still summer? And is it really that important?

Although the term "early autumn" has no official definition, experts claim that seasonal indicators like dropping leaves or apples that are ready to be picked are actually nature's way of coping with the long, hot, dry summer.

According to the Met Office, this summer is expected to be among the warmest since records began in 1884, making it possibly historic.

Wanda O'Connor, who began producing food six years ago, has grown melons outside for the first time in Cardiff.

She shows me her allotment greenhouse's ripening lemons and limes. "It's 38-39C in here," she observes, gesturing to a thermometer.

Because of the above-normal temperatures and more hours of sunshine, aubergines, red peppers, courgettes, and an abundance of tomatoes have all flourished.


At the same time, traditional fall fruits that are typically ready in September, such apples and blackberries, are dangling from the branches.

Data on whether this is a record-breaking event is still being gathered by conservationists. The Woodland Trust reports that on June 22, blackberries were spotted in London. In contrast, Southampton recorded the earliest date in 2024 on July 4th; nevertheless, experts want additional data to confirm the long-term pattern.


In Cardiff, Wanda has been able to bring home more food for dinner, but watering her plants has been more difficult than usual.