I know how fickle memories of past summers can be and I make no apologies if I
my memory seems to be selective, but I cannot recall having to continue mowing
the lawn every week, I usually expect to see brown/yellow verges as I drive
along the country lanes, and I hear farmers saying they cannot harvest and crops
are rotting in the ground.

The country lane verges have a verdant, spring-like quality quite unusual for
August.

I suspect that in a "normal" Midlands summer the brown verges are more to do
with greater evaporation than lack of rainfall, notwithstanding some
exceptionally dry and warm summers recently. This year, the rainfall has
appeared to keep pace with evaporation and ensured good growing conditions
throughout the month.

I suspect that our correspondents blessed with living on the parched heaths of
the Royal County of Berkshire will look at the brown verges and wonder what I'm
talking about.

Martin