Trees 'giving up': Climate change hammers historic English gardens

At Hampton Court Palace in southwest London, head gardener Graham Dillamore expressed concern about the impact of climate change on the historic gardens. The gardens, created by renowned designers such as Lancelot Capability Brown and William Kent, are facing challenges from record heatwaves and drought this summer. Dillamore stated, "If we have a summer like this next year, by God, it's going to be a struggle."

Some mature trees are drooping and turning brown in August, with Dillamore remarking, "Some of these trees have actually given up. They're not going to come back, they're finished."

Rosie Fyles, head of gardens at Chiswick House, said, "We've already lost trees" and noted that oaks, sycamores, birch, and limes are particularly affected. Gardeners admitted that watering mature trees is impractical, and at Chiswick, shrubs like camellias and lilacs are also suffering. Fyles admitted, "It's sobering. It means that we're having to think about what we plant going forward, what trees will be sustainable going forward in the future climate."

Gardeners surveyed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund reported that climate change is impacting historic gardens, not just through drought but also heavy storms and excessive rain. Drew Bennellick, head of lands, seas and nature policy at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, stated, "The changes are happening quite rapidly now. We've seen sites that lost 80 percent of their tree cover."

To adapt, some historic gardens are shifting to drought-tolerant plants, such as Mediterranean species and grasses. Hampton Court and Chiswick have also adjusted their gardening practices, reducing digging and relaxing about weeds. The Royal Horticultural Society is considering relocating heat-stressed plants to more suitable regions.

Garden designers and gardeners alike recognize that historic gardens must change to survive the challenges of climate change, but finding the right balance between preservation and adaptation remains a difficult decision.