A Christmas tree farmer in Swansea has had to adapt his business by investing £22,000 in a new irrigation system due to the ongoing dry spells experienced each year. The city of Swansea has recently seen one of the driest periods in the UK, with no rain recorded since early May. According to forecasters, the hot weather is expected to persist for another 10 days.
Rob Morgan, owner of Gower Fresh Christmas Trees Farm in Three Crosses, Swansea, highlighted that the water problem is affecting all farmers at the moment. He noted that May and June have progressively become drier over the years. To address the issue, he has made a significant investment in a tanker and a large rain-like spray system that helps distribute water across his crops.
Welsh Water acknowledged that climate change is undoubtedly impacting water supplies, although it does not anticipate the need for hosepipe bans or drought warnings this year. Mr. Morgan, who previously worked as a beef and cattle farmer, has diversified his business by cultivating 500,000 Christmas trees and growing fields of lavender, sunflowers, and pumpkins throughout the year.
Despite the lack of rainfall in Swansea since May 9, Mr. Morgan mentioned that the lavender is flourishing in the sunny weather. He expressed hope that his investment in the new irrigation system would assist his sunflowers in surviving the worst of the dry spell. However, he emphasized that he would not complain and would continue to tackle the challenges as a farmer.
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Welsh Water stated that reservoir and river levels have recovered following the driest spring and summer in more than 150 years in 2022. Nevertheless, they have advised the public to be considerate of their water usage and be thoughtful in their consumption.