Slough streams and ponds are running dry with plants, trees and wildlife at risk of dying out the council has announced today (27 July 2022).
The council announcement on the state of many of the waterways across the town comes as the Met Office announced the driest January to June period of weather since 1976.
Checks on the towns streams and ponds shows the Cippenham Pond is now completely dried up with no water in the streams which feed the local landmark either.
The pond at Baylis Park is also very low with local experts saying the water levels in streams from Haymill Nature Reserve in the north to Mill Stream Lane in the south are at the lowest they have ever seen.
Now the town’s parks team has issued a plea to residents to help save as many flowers, plants and baby trees as possible by giving them some water when people are out and about.
Bruce Hicks, parks officer, said: “The situation is dire. Despite it being cloudier this week there is no rain in the forecast for at least two weeks and our flower displays, planters and new baby trees are all suffering.
“Brown grass will soon become green again when the rain returns, but some of the flowers and the very young trees will not recover and will be lost forever.
“We have been watering regularly but it has been so dry we have not been able to keep up and the heatwave was the final straw. We need help.”
Councillor Nazir, lead member for transport and the local environment, said: “Every tree, every plant, every flower attracts a variety of wildlife and local people can help us protect it all.
“We cannot refill the streams and ponds, but each of us, when out and about, can take a bottle of water and pour it into a planter, or on the roots of a small, staked tree and do our bit to combat the extremely dry weather.
“You don’t need to get a hose out or carry buckets for miles – just a bottle on the way past. And if everyone walking their dog, popping to the local chippy or just going to see a friend gives that 500ml we have a chance of saving some of Slough’s greenery.”