Native British trees 'under threat' from global warming

Press Association via 24Dash.com
September 14, 2006
By Keith Hall

Horticultural experts across Britain are becoming increasingly concerned about the adverse effects global warming is having on the country's best-known trees.

Its claimed some species are battling to survive in the face of climate change.

Tony Kirkham, head of the arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in Surrey, said it was increasingly difficult to keep elements of the 14,000-strong Kew tree collection alive because of global warming.

The 300-acre site is home to tree specimens dating back more than 250 years.

He said: "In the arboretum I'm finding it very, very difficult to keep some of the tree collection going, in particular the very young ones and the very old ones.

"So we are working very hard to be more proactive in preserving moisture in the ground for the trees."

Mild winters and dry summers have not only contributed to drought conditions, he said, but have also promoted the survival of pests such as the leaf miner moth, which repeatedly strips the leaves from species including the common horse chestnut tree and the evergreen oak.

The moth came into the UK in 2002 from Macedonia and would normally be kept under control during cold winters. But it has thrived in the face of climate change.

Other species affected by drought conditions include birches and rowans.

The 10 warmest years on record have all been since 1990 and July this year was the hottest month since records began.

The last two winters have been the driest in more than 80 years in parts of southern England.

Those trees expected to thrive in drier and hotter conditions include the Turkish hazel, the sweetgum, from the US, the Atlantic cedar and the eucalyptus from Australia.

Mr Kirkham's remarks come after Environment Minister Ian Pearson warned gardeners in the UK to prepare for the effects of climate change.

He said pest and disease attacks were predicted to increase and there would also be more extreme storms, causing flash flooding, plant damage and washing out soils.

He said gardeners should think about drought-resistant plants such as marigolds, petunias or geraniums. They should also think about trees that will thrive in the face of climate change, which include silver maple and black cherry trees.

The UK is a nation of gardeners with an estimated 27 million enthusiasts and more than 27,000 parks, gardens and other landscapes.

The minister said: "The quintessential English garden will have to adapt to our changing climate. Gardeners have a responsibility, in water use, species type, and garden design, to adapt too."

Mr Pearson was speaking at a news conference in the Dry Garden at Kew.

His words were at times drowned out by the sound of overhead aircraft passing regularly above. Asked about the contribution of air travel to climate change, he said aviation was an "increasing problem" in relation to carbon dioxide emissions.

"We need an international solution to this and our focus is to get an agreement at European level on this," he said.

The news conference also heard from Professor Sir Peter Crane, Kew director, who called for a cut in carbon emissions in order to limit global warming to a two-degrees centigrade increase or less.

He said: "Here at Kew we see the effects of climate change, not just in the gardens, but through our work literally all over the world."

Gardeners are being advised to use water more efficiently with a list of "helpful tips" issued by the Government.

These include using water butts and watering cans, trying not to cut lawns too short and watering the roots and soil around plants rather than spraying leaves and flowers.

Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "It's a bit rich for Labour to now try and claim they care about the quintessential English garden, when it's under real threat from the planning rules introduced by John Prescott.

"Across the country, there is growing concern that these rules are leading to leafy gardens being dug up and replaced with high density flats. The price of family homes is artificially inflated due to developers being forced to build flats.

"Local people are increasingly powerless to protect the character of their neighbourhood, and communities are suffering from the extra burden being placed on local infrastructure.

"These planning rules prevent the development of new homes that the public actually want - family homes with sufficient parking spaces and gardens for children to play in."

NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes.

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