This is so sad. The oaks there are so old and big.

It could be interesting to try to hybridize new more heat resistant versions of the old wood.

are they planting more around them?

Sure but it will take 500+ years for them to reach the same size and age. And who knows what the climate will be like by then.

If they want to mitigate this for the time being, the best solution would be to consult an expert to design an appropriate irrigation scheme to bridge the trees through the drought.

Enjoy the huge old trees while they last. They are a product of a long, stable climate that may not return for a long, long time.

best time to plant is now. as the tree is only getting older

I genuinely think we will have to start planting different vegetation now -- like different breeds of grass -- so that it doesn't all die during the summer like it is now.

I winder if a carve out could be made into the hosepipe ban for these protected trees

This fills me with more grief than I will ever feel for the death of a fascist.

To what end? We know it will only get warmer from here. If oaks start dying now, they're goner in the next 2 decades. Take the loss and move on.

I agree with the sentiment, but it might be good to wait and plant when rains are expected. Unless your planting very drought tolerant stuff.

It would need to be grass with very deep roots. This exists, but it afaik struggles to grow with the typical compacted soils we have due to decades of mechanized agriculture and groundwater depletion.

On the broader topic, the sad thing about planting trees is that it is super hard to find a species that will grow well now and still do well in 40+ years given the +4°C trajectory we are on. The change is happening too rapidly for long lived species like trees.

If you know of one in your area, be a champ and water it illegally.

The best kind of crime

So many people are ignoring it anyway. At least, around my hometown

Younger trees are even more vulnerable to extreme heat because their root systems aren't as developed.

When the last one dies it will transform back into an old man in a cloak with zero explanation of wtf is going on.