Parchment?

It seems very likely that the drought that is evident over large sections of the UK as a result of 2 successive dry winters, will continue for some time and might well spread (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17726989). The drought will certainly cause anguish to gardeners (hose-pipe bans) and farmers (many crops are 'thirsty'). One should, however, also be concerned about the effects on the natural world. In a situation, where rivers are completely drying over sections of their 'flow', there are not only a powerful impacts on water creatures and vegetation but also on the organisms (e.g. migrating birds and birds of prey) that depend on them. When the waters return, it is likely to be some time before the ecology is re-established.