By mid-August, leaves had already started turning brown as the prolonged drought tightened its grip. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which manages over 100 nature reserves across the region, said the lack of rainfall has placed already fragile habitats under "tremendous pressure."

At Askham Bog near York, reserve manager Dave Powell reported that ditches which usually remain waterlogged throughout the year have completely dried out. "Normally the water table is at or near the surface all year round. This summer you could walk through the ditches in trainers, not even wellies," he said, adding that the site's main pond had vanished altogether, putting wetland species at risk.

In other reserves such as Moorlands, north of York, oak trees have begun dropping large, healthy branches to conserve energy, a survival mechanism known as limb drop. While this may prolong the life of the tree, it leaves wounds vulnerable to disease and fungal infections. Powell warned that trees entering the winter months without adequate moisture are likely to be more brittle and less resilient against strong winds.

Similar impacts have been observed at Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale, where curator Faith Douglas said many trees looked "scorched" and fruit yields were unusually low. "The trees are going dormant early to protect their roots, but that means less food for wildlife," she explained.

Experts say the pattern is part of a wider trend. Four of the UK's five hottest summers on record have occurred since 2003, with this year bringing both the warmest spring and warmest summer in succession. BBC climate correspondent Paul Hudson said this offered "even more evidence of a warming climate."

While autumn and winter rains may provide some short-term relief, Powell warned that the ecological consequences of the drought could be felt next year, with reduced reseeding, exposed soils prone to erosion, and wildlife struggling to recover.

The Wildlife Trust has launched an autumn appeal to raise awareness and funding for woodland management. Yorkshire's woodlands span an area nearly twice the size of Sherwood Forest and provide vital habitat for species such as the lesser-spotted woodpecker, Nathusius' pipistrelle bats and pied flycatchers.

"Nature can cope with extremes, but sustained stress makes recovery harder," Powell said. "If everyone does a little to support the environment, those small efforts can add up."