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11
Aug
World-famous gardens near Ripon suffering as heatwave exacerbates drought
The fourth heatwave of the summer looks set to exacerbate the drought problems affecting Studley Royal’s famous water gardens.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 31 degrees in Ripon by midweek after months of below average rainfall.
Low water levels at the World Heritage Site have affected ponds and lakes, and the water cascade near the wooden bridge has been reduced to little more than a trickle.
The cascade into the main lake at Studley Royal has slowed to a trickle.
Yorkshire Water announced a hosepipe ban and drought last month after the driest spring on record.
With no significant rain in Ripon’s two-week forecast, Studley Royal will have to wait for the skies to open before its water features are replenished and back in full flow.
A spokesperson for the National Trust, which owns the gardens and Fountains Abbey, told the Stray Ferret:
The artificial ponds and lakes are all fed from the River Skell and with the natural river being so low because of the drought, we're not looking as watery as usual.
Our amazing garden team are doing their best by regularly clearing the algae in the ponds in the water garden to keep the water flowing as well as possible.
Our ranger teams are also carrying our more regular checks on the deer herds and other wildlife to make sure they have access to water.
Yesterday was our busiest day of the summer holidays so far and it's great to see so many visitors enjoying themselves in the sunshine.
Water levels are low in the moon ponds.
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