Consecutive days of hot weather has scorched the grassland on Tunbridge Wells Common and created a fire risk.
Ian Beavis, a Committee Member of Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, said days of temperatures in the mid-20s has affected the grassland as much as any dry spell since the infamous drought of 1976.
The heatwave has taken its toll on the ancient Tunbridge Wells landscape, with grass around Wellington Rocks turning from a healthy green to a desert-like brown.
Mr Beavis said: ‘It has weathered in the past and in the 1976 drought the Common was in a similar condition.
‘The Common is taking on its desert look as the heatwave progresses. This can happen during a dry spell.
‘It is a robust landscape and wildlife there is able to cope. The flowers there are doing fine. The Common has been there for thousands of years so it will be able to bounce back.’
The South East has had its driest June since records began with only 3.2mm of rain having fallen this month, at the time of going to press.
And warm weather is set to continue in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge this week, with the Met Office predicting highs of around 25C today [Wednesday].
Mr Beavis, who is also Curator at Tunbridge Wells Museum, encouraged Common visitors to take car while enjoying the sunshine.
‘Fire is a concern as it has happened in recent years,’ he said. ‘But because of the natural banking it is easy for the Fire Service to access.
‘Residents need to be careful and not have barbecues.’
