Amid a heat wave and severe drought in Britain this summer, Divya Hariramani noticed a plum tree branch splitting while pruning in south London. Workers at Mitcham Community Orchard explained that the stress caused by the heat was leading to tree issues. Hariramani, who runs a social media account called Fruity Walks documenting fruit trees and their caretakers in London, highlighted the impact of the heat on tree health.
London, renowned for its mature urban forest, is facing challenges this year due to consecutive heat waves and scarce rainfall. A recent report from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew predicts that by the end of the century, 73% of the city’s trees could be at risk of dying due to climate change.
The Kew Gardens tree collections team, in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, assessed over a million public trees and found that a significant portion already have low suitability to future climate conditions. The impact of climate change is not just a future concern, as demonstrated by the loss of 400 trees at Kew Gardens in 2022 due to extreme heat and drought.
As the climate in London is expected to resemble Barcelona’s by 2050, botanists are considering planting more resilient tree species. Kew Gardens is evaluating tree species that can thrive in hotter, drier weather while enduring England’s wet winters.
Paul Wood, an author focusing on London’s trees, expressed concerns about the future of the city’s green spaces amid extreme heat and drought. He emphasized the historical and ecological significance of London’s ancient trees, highlighting their irreplaceable value.
The challenges faced by London’s urban forest underscore the urgent need for climate action and strategic planning to protect the city’s trees and green spaces for future generations.