Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex grower.
Provisional Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in 2025.
Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions".
The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts.
Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life."
The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr Pinkosz.
The company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK retailers.
Despite the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit".
"No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he said.
The company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions.
Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
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Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex grower. Provisional Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in 2025. Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions". The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts. Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life." The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr Pinkosz. The company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK retailers. Despite the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit". "No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he said. The company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. UK's spring was warmest on record, Met Office says Pleas to 'use water wisely' to avoid hosepipe ban Farmer's yield concerns after no 'meaningful rain' 'Difficult year' for farmers as annual show begins Met Office
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Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring
Record-breaking spring sunshine and "perfect" conditions are producing larger and sweeter strawberries, says one West Sussex grower. Provisional Met Office figures show the UK experienced its warmest spring on record and its driest in over half a century in 2025. Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, said daytime sunshine and cooler nights in March, April and May "positively influenced our growing conditions". The company, based at Groves Farm near Chichester, uses reservoirs to help protect against droughts. Mr Pinkosz said: "What we have observed this year is the perfect conditions to develop ideal berries, which are bigger, tastier, and with better shelf life." The Summer Berry Company has 300 acres of polytunnels, according to Mr Pinkosz. The company also has 62 acres of glasshouses for producing a winter crop of the fruit, and says it supplies most major UK retailers. Despite the bumper 2025 crop, Mr Pinkosz warned that climate change "potentially has a negative impact on growing fruit". "No fruit, in my experience, likes too hot conditions or too wet conditions," he said. The company has, however, designed new varieties of strawberry, which it hopes will allow it to keep producing berries in harsher conditions. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. UK's spring was warmest on record, Met Office says Pleas to 'use water wisely' to avoid hosepipe ban Farmer's yield concerns after no 'meaningful rain' 'Difficult year' for farmers as annual show begins Met Office
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Earlier this year, devastating wildfires swept through Southern California, including the Palisades and Eaton fires. These blazes, intensified by prolonged drought and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, led to the destruction of more than 16,000 structures and claimed numerous lives. These wildfires came just weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the southeastern United States, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage across Florida, North Carolina and beyond. I personally experienced the gravity of those hurricanes, and have since volunteered with communities in western NC (where I used to live) and Florida (where I live now) to rebuild and mend these communities. Through my volunteer work, I've witnessed firsthand the setbacks and frustrations that can arise from losing important personal records and IDs. The increased frequency and severity of natural catastrophes, driven by climate change, means preparation is absolutely necessary. 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Clean and dry damaged documents If your documents are wet or crumpled, but not severely damaged, you can follow these steps to attempt to restore them: Separate documents: Gently separate stuck-together papers to prevent further damage. Rinse carefully: Use distilled water to rinse off any dirt, debris or contaminants. Dry properly: Lay documents flat on absorbent paper towels, changing them as they become wet. Avoid using direct heat sources, like hairdryers, as they can cause further damage. For photographs and books: Photographs: If they're stuck together, consider soaking them in distilled water to help separate them. Books: Stand them upright with pages fanned open, placing absorbent paper between pages to aid in drying. Use professional document recovery services For severely damaged documents, especially those with mold or extensive water exposure, consider hiring a professional document recovery service. 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