Is This the Worst Year for Fruit in Two Decades? Wet Spring Leads to Low Yields

The latest findings from Nature’s Calendar, the Woodland Trust’s citizen science project, suggest that this year’s wet spring may have lasting effects on wildlife, with data revealing significantly lower fruit yields across the UK. After a bumper crop of hawthorn berries in 2023, this year’s harvest is notably smaller, leaving hedgerows much less inviting for wildlife such as birds and pollinators.

Fruit Scores Plummet

According to data from Nature’s Calendar, hawthorn berries are at their lowest levels since records began in 2001, and elderberries are also showing a significant drop. Elderberries scored just 2.8 on this year’s fruit scale, well below their usual average of 3.66. Additionally, species such as ash, ivy, and oak are seeing their lowest fruit scores in over two decades.

Judith Garforth, Citizen Science Officer for Nature’s Calendar, explains the likely causes: “The low fruit yield comes after downpours earlier in the year, which may have damaged those early blooms, some of which may have opened early, coaxed out by the warm temperatures. It’s also been widely noted as a bad year for pollinators, which would also have been impacted by the rain, and which in turn could have contributed to the low fruit yield we’re now seeing.”

A Tough Year for Pollinators and Trees

The spring of 2024 was characterised by unseasonable warmth, followed by heavy rainfall. February was the warmest on record since 1779, while April was the 6th wettest since 1836. These conditions appear to have taken a toll on the UK’s trees and pollinators alike.

Many trees are showing signs of stress, with some species turning earlier than usual. Records from Nature’s Calendar indicate that leaf colour changes, known as ‘first tint,’ occurred up to 19 days earlier in some native species. Silver birch, horse chestnut, and rowan are among the trees that have reached ‘full tint’ up to two weeks earlier than average.

The Importance of Citizen Science

Nature’s Calendar is a citizen science project supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, where volunteers across the country record key changes in nature that mark the changing seasons. Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, expressed her delight at the project’s ongoing success: “We’re delighted that our players continue to support the Nature’s Calendar citizen science project. Wherever you are in the country, it’s a beautiful time to get out for a walk in the woods, and enjoy the spectacular displays of colour.”

About the Woodland Trust

Founded in 1972, the Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, with over 500,000 members and supporters. The charity owns and manages over 1,000 woodland sites across the UK, covering around 33,000 hectares. The Woodland Trust is dedicated to protecting ancient woodlands, restoring damaged areas, and establishing new native trees and woods.

Access to all Woodland Trust woods is free, allowing everyone the opportunity to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time among trees.

The Woodland Trust and Cornwall

The Woodland Trust, which manages over 1,000 woodland sites across the UK, has a notable presence in Cornwall, where it protects and restores ancient woodlands vital to local wildlife. With its vision of thriving woods and trees for both people and nature, the charity continues to play a key role in preserving Cornwall’s unique natural heritage. Local woodlands provide important habitats for wildlife affected by the low fruit yields reported this year.

For more information about the Woodland Trust or to get involved in Nature’s Calendar, visit the Woodland Trust’s website.

Photo: Bird feeding on hawthorn berries – credit David Whitaker