Original article by Susan Ballard. Read about expected impacts for gardens as a result of climate changes we expect in the UK.

Introduction

Gardeners in Britain are having to think seriously about what they will be able to grow and maintain over the next fifty to eighty years. Climate change will have an impact on growing conditions and may even bring about the end of the "English country garden" and the traditional British lawn. Domestic gardeners will be better placed to adapt than those responsible for historic gardens and plant collections. The custodians of our garden heritage will be challenged to preserve what was originally developed in climatic conditions that will no longer exist.

The UK's 27 million gardeners will have to rethink their borders. Photo: Anna Winton

The National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society have published a report ‘Gardening in the Global Greenhouse', available to download from the UK Climate Impacts Programme at UKCIP Gardens report What follows are details from a press release jointly published with the UK Climate Impacts Programme on November 19^th 2002.

Sections in this article

• Who was involved in the Study

• The impacts on Gardens

• Comment from the Royal Horticultural Society

• Comment from the National Trust

• Comment from the UK Climate Impacts Programme

• Where next?

Who was involved in the Study

The study which produced the report, "Gardening in the Global Greenhouse: The Impacts of Climate Change on Gardens in the UK" was commissioned by the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Anglian Water, English Heritage, the Forestry Commission, Notcutts Nurseries and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the UK Climate Impacts Programme. The authors are Richard Bisgrove and Professor Paul Hadley from Reading University.

The impacts on Gardens

The study has been commissioned at a time when the vulnerability of gardens to the vagaries of the weather is becoming increasingly apparent. The impact of climate change is likely to lead to:

• Reduced frosts

• Earlier Spring

• Higher average temperatures all year round

• Increased winter rainfall, leading to risk from flooding

• Hotter, drier summers, increasing risk of drought

Comment from the Royal Horticultural Society

"Gardeners are adept at coping with the weather and the likely climate change over the next 80 years will present exciting opportunities as well as challenges. While there will be greater opportunities to grow exotic fruits and sub-tropical plants like citrus and cannas, increased winter rainfall will present difficulties for Mediterranean species which dislike water logging. Careful irrigation techniques as well as wise water management will be essential for all gardeners - including those at the RHS." (Dr Andrew Coloquhoun, Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society)

 

Wise gardeners will prepare for more extreme conditions.

Comment from the National Trust

"The Trust knows that climate change will affect all our properties. We are already seeing the effects of extreme and unexpected weather on our wildlife, historic buildings, rivers and lakes, coast and gardens. We are working with others to evaluate these impacts and respond in the most positive way. We have to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change and at the same time find new ways of living and working that can adapt to an evolving and more unpredictable climate. Our work on gardens gives us all a signpost to these changes - this is an invaluable call for action." (Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust)

Comment from the UK Climate Impacts Programme

"Some climate change is now inevitable and although we can still influence the extent of this for the latter part of the century, the die is already cast for the next 50 years. We want people to find out more about how these changes will affect their lives and to consider this in their plans for the future." (Chris West, Director of UKCIP)

Where next?

On ClimateX.org

We also have on site other work involving the UK Climate Impacts Programme which may be of interest, such as ‘Counting the Cost of UK Climate Change - and the Benefits?'

External Links

Visit the Royal Horticultural Society to find a wealth of information on environmentally sensitive gardening techniques.