12°C
Climate change presents us not only with the challenge of warmer weather, but also unpredictable weather patterns. This is something we’ve seen a lot this year. The high winds we experienced during the back-to-back storms at the start of the year damaged multiple trees, even causing some to fall. The record-breaking lack of rainfall this spring caused the lawns to dry out, whilst warm weather earlier in the season brought flowers into bloom that we don’t usually see until mid-May to early-June.
So that raises the question: how do we keep our historic garden thriving whilst also navigating this rapid change in climate, and doing our bit to support a healthy ecosystem?
The answer for our garden team is to experiment and adapt. Every day, we’re observing the impact that our ever-changing climate has on plant life around the garden. As the years go by, we’re learning which plants are resilient enough to overcome the challenging environment and adapting the garden in response.
As Winterbourne continues to evolve, we seek to strike a balance between honouring and preserving our heritage, whilst also shaping the garden for an unprecedented future. We’ll be adapting beds and borders to suit a warmer climate. You’ll notice a more diverse range of species from across the world being used in mixed schemes. And in some areas, we’ll be nurturing biodiversity where historically there may have been monocultures.
Last year, in an article for Rare Plant Fair, Winterbourne Head Gardener Dan Cartwright wrote: ‘Plants often do the opposite to what you expect, so, as gardeners, we always have to be ready to observe what is happening and react accordingly. In my opinion, the best gardens evolve over time and the best gardeners must evolve too, along with them.’
This adaptability is becoming increasingly important in response to climate change. So, whilst we’ll continue to honour the Arts-and-Crafts heritage of Winterbourne’s Garden, and its original design by Margaret Nettlefold, we’ll also be embracing the imperative need to adapt and respond to the demands of climate change – creating a garden for the future that honours the past.
Read Dan’s full article, Coping with Climate changes in an Historic Garden.
