Parks across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole hit by heatwave

Christchurch Quay, Poole Park and Mudeford Recreation Ground are just some of the areas that have been left parched following soaring temperatures, and weeks without any significant rainfall. 

The once luscious grass has turned to patches of brown, dried earth, but with an amber heat-health warning in place for Dorset and the BCP region, green grass shouldn’t be expected any time soon.

The warning came into force at 12pm on Tuesday, August 9 and, will continue through to 6pm on Saturday, August 13 with a 90 per cent chance of heatwave conditions.

It says: "High pressure dominating this week, with fine and dry conditions across most of the country, prolonged sunny spells and light to moderate breezes.

Brown, dry earth at Branksome Recreational Ground

"Temperatures rising from warm or very warm to locally hot in most regions, with a focus of the warmest weather in central-southern England.

"Headline max temperatures reaching mid 30's by Friday.

"The biggest question mark is over the end of the hot spell, with recent models indicating thundery showers arriving from as early as Saturday 13th, but perhaps as late as Tuesday 16th. Confidence on this will likely increase later in the week."

Hosepipe bans have been imposed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight but there are yet to be any restrictions implemented in Dorset.

Read more: Wessex Water and Bournemouth Water on hosepipe ban calls

However, Wessex Water and Bournemouth Water have encouraged customers to use water “responsibly” amid the soaring temperatures.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “There are no supply problems in the Wessex Water region but we always encourage our customers to use water responsibly for the benefit of everyone and the environment.”

An artificial strip of grass at Christchurch Quay highlights the poor state of the grass

Bournemouth Water, meanwhile, said their plans are under constant review. A spokesperson said: “While we have no immediate plans to implement water restrictions, the long period of unprecedented hot and dry weather we are experiencing means we are constantly reviewing our position and the extremely high levels of demand we are seeing.

Read more: Heatwave: amber heat-health alert issued for BCP and Dorset

“Overall, we are confident that we have sufficient water in our reservoirs and rivers. However, continued high demand and low rainfall will put strain on these precious resources.

"We always ask customers to think about their water usage and we are now urging customers to avoid non-essential water use such as filling paddling pools and using a hosepipe in the garden and for washing cars.”