From 1976 to Now: Are Britain’s Droughts Getting Worse?

About this episode

Host Matt and author Tim Smedley discuss the evolution of droughts in Britain from 1976 to the present, examining changes in weather, infrastructure, and future water management solutions.

Host Matt is joined by author Tim Smedley to ask: was the summer of 1976 really as bad as we remember, or are today’s droughts even tougher? They compare two generations of water scarcity, discuss how Britain’s weather and infrastructure have shifted, and explore what needs to change — from national reservoirs to home rainwater harvesting. A clear-eyed look at nostalgia, climate, and the future of water in the UK.

People in this episode

Host: Matt

Guest: Tim Smedley

Topics covered

• drought
• water scarcity
• climate change
• infrastructure
• nostalgia

Keywords

• Britain
• reservoirs
• rainwater harvesting

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Britain, UK

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