Climate & Environment

Record-Breaking Heat Brings Mixed Fortunes for South-West England and Channel Islands Businesses

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

This summer's exceptional heat has produced a range of outcomes for businesses across south-west England and the Channel Islands, with some enterprises benefiting from increased visitor numbers while others struggled with the effects of prolonged dry weather. Provisional Met Office figures show the average mean temperature for June, July and August reached 16.5C (61.7F), making it the warmest summer on record in the UK, with data going back to 1884. Meteorologists in Jersey and Guernsey also confirmed record summer temperatures for the islands, averaging 20.5C (68.9F) in Jersey and 18.9C (66.2F) in Guernsey. Christian Hocking, an ice cream seller at Hocking's in Appledore, Devon, said business remained steady but noted that extreme heat reduced customers' appetite for ice cream, with many opting for water instead. "When it gets too hot, it actually gets too hot for ice cream," he said. Guernsey Dairy reported that the dry and hot conditions reduced milk volumes from local farms, though supplies remained sufficient to meet daily demand. Operations director Andrew Tabel praised the efforts of local farmers and production teams, saying they "worked incredibly hard throughout this prolonged period of hot and dry weather." Meanwhile, The Avon Inn in Avonwick, Devon, saw a rise in trade. Manager Eda Iannone said the pub experienced strong footfall after expanding its outdoor seating, adding that increased confidence in hosting outdoor events paid off despite the UK's unpredictable weather. Tina Bessell of Cornish Lavender, located between St Agnes and Perranporth, said the heat resulted in an excellent oil yield, even though visitor numbers dropped during the hottest days. "The farm has loved the heat," she said. "I think I must be the only farmer in the South West that is happy with the heat." In contrast, Rocquette Cider in Guernsey expects its apple harvest to fall by around 80% due to the dry conditions. Manager James Miller described the situation as "appalling," noting that the grass had remained dry enough that mowing wasn't necessary and that the trees appeared to rely solely on morning dew for moisture. He added that a strong harvest last year had left the company with substantial cider reserves, but warned that two consecutive poor harvests would be damaging. Jon Parks of the National Trust for Jersey said the extreme weather was also affecting St Ouen's Pond, where low water levels and algal growth are threatening a key habitat for migrating birds. He noted that species such as green sandpipers, curlews and spoonbills, which typically visit the wetland at this time of year, have been largely absent due to the lack of water. While Parks identified extreme summer conditions as a "major contributing factor" to the pond's problems, he stressed that they were not the sole cause.