Creating a garden for a changing climate
As our climate changes from four distinct seasons to a more consistent climate with warmer winters and wetter summers, unpredictable rainfall, and more extreme weather events we need to rethink how we cultivate our green areas.
Plants have lived through millennia of changing conditions and are remarkably adaptable and resilient. Yet, climate change is predicted to equal habitat loss as the greatest threat to biodiversity by the end of this century.
By diverse plantings, we can improve soil health, store carbon, and provide for pollinators and other wildlife in our green areas.
With spring arriving much sooner than usual, many plants are flowering earlier. This leaves them vulnerable to frosts, disrupts animal feeding patterns, and impacts farming, livelihoods and food security.
Plants may change distribution and shift habitat range. For example, some native plants are retreating north to areas where there is less competition with plants that enjoy higher temperatures. For plants already in the north, this means they are occupying a smaller habitat range.
Here are some ways in which you can help