With temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms and prolonged drought, many of the UK’s forests and woodlands were put under stress during the summer of 2025. Can our trees bounce back?

Why our woodlands are feeling the heat

When the Met Office confirmed that the summer of 2025 was the hottest ever recorded in Britain, ecologists and foresters were already warning of silent casualties: our woodlands. This summer has not only tested the resilience of familiar species such as oak, ash and birch, but also raised serious questions about the future of timber supplies, leading woodland managers to reconsider planting strategies to adapt to the rapidly changing climate.

Why have we seen record breaking temperatures?

According to the Met Office, the UK recorded an average temperature of 16.1 °C, breaking the previous 2018 record of 15.76 °C. Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said:

The persistent warmth this year has been driven by a combination of factors including the domination of high-pressure systems, unusually warm seas around the UK and the dry spring soils. These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers, with both maximum and minimum temperatures considerably above average. 

Just how unusual was the summer of 2025?

July and August brought near-unbroken sunshine, temperatures regularly topping 35°C in southern England, and rainfall deficits of up to 50% compared to the seasonal average.

Head of climate attribution at the Met Office, Dr Mark McCarthy, said that this summer’s extreme hot spell was made much more likely because of greenhouse gases released since the Industrial Revolution. He commented:

In a natural climate, we could expect to see a summer like 2025 with an approximate return period of around 340 years, while in the current climate we could expect to see these sorts of summers roughly one in every five years. Our analysis suggests that while 2025 has set a new record, we could plausibly experience much hotter summers in our current and near-future climate and shows how what would have been seen as extremes in the past, are becoming more common in our changing climate.

Commenting on the Met Office’s confirmation that England has suffered it’s driest spring in over a century, Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said:

The rate at which climate records are falling is relentless. 2022 saw the hottest UK day ever; 2024 was then the wettest winter on record, following the wettest 18-month spell. 2025 was the warmest spring on record for the UK and now it’s the hottest summer.

He added that due to climate change and industrial emissions, these extremes will continue to worsen.

Which trees struggled and which coped best in the drought?

Many trees demonstrated the effect of the heatwave by their leaves turning yellow months early, while growth rings on young trees virtually disappeared, However, not all trees react to heatwaves in the same way. Here are some of the most notable examples:

Silver Birch

Shallow-rooted species such as silver birch showed the most visible signs of distress. Preferring light, free-draining soils, birches struggle in prolonged dry spells. Many are displaying smaller leaves that have already turned yellow and dropped due to the dryness of the top 50cm of soil where their roots lie. By mid-August, woodland managers reported widespread leaf scorch, early dieback, and stunted growth among birch and also rowan trees which have shallow roots.

Beech trees

Traditionally thought of as hardy, beech has relatively shallow roots, making it susceptible to drought. Large stands in southern England showed leaf browning and canopy thinning, with fears that some older specimens may not recover.

Oak and hornbeam

Their deeper roots and tolerance for fluctuating conditions allowed them to weather the heat better, though experts warn that repeated summers of this intensity could change this.

Conifers

The effects of the heat were mixed: Scots pine showed moderate stress, with needle browning in some plantations, while Sitka spruce, a non-native species, suffered in drier eastern regions.

Beyond the trees, how did the drought affect wildlife?

While woodlands were badly affected, the impact of the heatwaves extends further: drier soils meant fewer invertebrates for birds to feed on, while berries and nuts ripened prematurely, reducing vital food supplies for many creatures in autumn and winter. Ground-dwelling species such as hedgehogs and amphibians have been particularly badly hit, suffering from dried up undergrowth and shrinking ponds.

The Woodland Trust 2025 Report warned thatbiodiversity levels in woodlands have reduced, with severe declines in both butterfly and bird populations, down -47% and -37% respectively. The report found that woodlands face a range of threats, with the UK currently hosting 121 introduced native tree pests.

Another side effect of the heatwave has been a rise in tick populations; in July 2025 the  UK Health Security Agency warned people to be aware of the increased risk of tick bites which can cause Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Can UK forests and woodlands recover?

Yes – if conditions allow. Trees stressed by heat and drought often conserve energy by shedding leaves early, a survival mechanism that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are dying.

If autumn and winter bring sustained rainfall, soils can recharge their moisture reserves, and many trees will recover next spring, according to the National Forest. Rain will encourage stressed trees to produce a fresh flush of leaves, helping them photosynthesise and store sugars before the start of true autumn at the end of October. Over the next six to nine months, above average rainfall is needed to soak the ground rather than run off it. A wet spring would certainly boost weakened trees, enabling new growth.

The greatest threat is from consecutive hot summers: continual drought could tip marginally stressed trees into irreversible decline, leaving gaps in woodlands that invasive species or pests might quickly take over.

What about future timber supplies?

The heatwave certainly has implications for Britain’s timber industry. Drought stress slows tree growth, meaning reduced yields in coming years. Weakened trees are also more vulnerable to pests such as bark beetle, which thrives in warmer, drier conditions.

Scandinavian suppliers have warned that climate change is constraining softwood production, raising concerns about the UK’s reliance on imports. Ensuring a secure domestic supply may require urgent changes in forest management.

Industry body the Confederation of Forest Industries UK (Confor) has warned that climate change poses long-term risks to sustainable timber supplies in the UK. “If droughts like this become more frequent, we’re looking at slower-growing timber, more disease outbreaks, and potentially shortages of high-quality hardwoods,” noted a Confor spokesperson.

Earlier this year Confor backed plans to build resilience into forests in Scotland to combat climate change. Immediate and long-term priorities over next 10 years include planning to reduce risks, choosing species that will thrive, exchanging knowledge and training, use of AI, eDNA, satellite data and workshops to learn from other countries.

Should we rethink woodland planting?

Woodland managers must consider whether to continue planting traditional species or introduce more drought-tolerant varieties, including those from southern Europe. According to Forest Research, the scientific agency for trees in Great Britain and an executive agency of the Forestry Commission, forecasts of drier summers and the likelihood of droughts will increase water stress in trees, with southern England facing the highest risk of drought.

To counter this, Forest Research proposes planting different species, improving breeding stock, managing vegetation to reduce wildfires, alternative tree thinning methods and increased monitoring and contingency planning. Species mixes will provide some insurance against climate change if matched to the site, selecting trees that are resilient to hotter summers.

Forestry Commission Scotland is trialling Climate Ready Forestry at Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in Scotland, which it manages for timber production and recreation over its 67,000 hectares of native woodland. Planting UK-sourced and grown trees will avoid introducing tree diseases that might survive better in a warmer climate, according to the Woodland Trust. It states that evidence demonstrates native species suited to a site are more resilient than natives from different areas.

Changes to woodland design are also being considered, such as planting in mosaics of habitat to combat vulnerabilities, increasing ground cover to reduce evaporation, and restoring wetlands to retain moisture levels in woodlands.

What lessons can we learn from Europe?

Extreme heat has caused droughts and wildfires in forests across Europe, resulting not only in the loss of trees, but adverse impacts on tree growth and stability and knock-on effects on world timber markets. Bark beetle infestations have badly hit Norway spruce forests and other pest and disease outbreaks are more frequent. In countries including Spain, risk of wildfires has led to rethinking the use of fire breaks and drought-tolerant planting.

The European Forest Institute states that while the UK has avoided the worst scenarios seen in European forests, we could be facing the same situation if we are slow to adapt.

What can be done now?

Preventative steps already being taken include:

  • Water retention projects: restoring streams, ponds, and wetlands within forests to hold moisture.
  • Diversified planting: mixing species with different tolerances to spread risk.
  • Soil protection: reducing compaction from heavy machinery to improve water infiltration.
  • Assisted regeneration: protecting natural seedlings from deer browsing, allowing new generations of resilient trees to establish.
  • Public involvement: woodland visitors should be encouraged to stick to paths to avoid compacting soils, and support conservation organisations through donations or volunteering.

What does the future look like for UK forests?

The summer of 2025 may be remembered as a turning point; the moment the UK realised its woodlands are not immune to climate change but are fragile systems that will be affected by a hotter climate. The coming autumn and winter will determine how well our trees recover.

If rains return, many stressed trees may rebound, flushing green again next spring. If not, we will see gaps in forests, a decline in timber yields, and woodland managers will face tough decisions about what Britain’s forests should look like in 50 years’ time. For now, the future of our woodlands is in the hands of the weather.

Five ways you can help woodland resilience:

Support tree diversity

Donate to or volunteer with organisations like the Woodland Trust or local rewilding projects that focus on planting mixed, climate-resilient woodlands.

Choose UK-sourced timber

Buying Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-certified) home-grown wood reduces the pressure on overseas forests and supports sustainable forestry here.

Visit woodlands responsibly

Stick to marked paths to avoid compacting soil which makes it harder for trees to absorb water.

Encourage spaces for water

In gardens or community areas, build ponds, rain gardens, or log piles. These features store water, provide shade, and offer refuges for wildlife.

Raise awareness

Share information about climate stress on woodlands to spread understanding of the risks.