There were 266 hours of sunny weather in May making it a record-breaker. I’ve had a look back at the records and the previous sunniest month on record in the UK was June of 1957. Anyone who works outside for a living will have noticed just how hot and sunny it has been.

So we have put measures in place to ensure that all of the challenges that hot and dry weather throw up can be met.

As groundworks contractors, we know all about breaking up soil as quickly and efficiently as possible. Of course, in normal weather conditions, the ground can be broken up with relative ease. In fact, given that February was one of the wettest months on record, you might be forgiven for thinking that the ground has still not truly dried out. Believe me, though, it certainly has.

Therefore, if you require any ground to be broken – to dig a trench, to form a bank or to create a post hole, for example – then you need to be prepared for a more demanding job at the moment.

With so much sun in recent weeks, there are lots of jobs that could be prioritised, such as:

· The creation of firebreaks between trees and crop fields

· The installation of water supply pipes to areas of land where irrigation may never have been needed in previous years.

· The formation of reservoirs to preserve the water that might be available on the land you have.

One of our top priorities. Even though we work outside, we will avoid direct exposure to the sun, where possible, and we encourage others to follow suit. The key to operating heavy equipment safely in the sun is to work at a sensible pace, to drink lots of water and to avoid consuming anything dehydrating. As well as other sensible measures, like wearing suitable clothing and remaining alert for potential fatigue or dizziness.

In summary, stay safe, keep cool and carry on…

Brian