In the midst of a heatwave and severe drought in the UK this summer, Divya Hariramani noticed a troubling issue with a plum tree in south London while pruning it. The branch was starting to split from the tree, a sign of stress as indicated by the workers at Mitcham Community Orchard.
Hariramani, who showcases fruit trees and their caretakers on her social media account called Fruity Walks, explained that the heat was causing water stress in the trees, leading to parts dropping off. Despite London’s renowned stone architecture, the city is also famous for its vast urban forest, considered the largest globally.
This year has been challenging for London’s lush canopy due to multiple heatwaves and limited rainfall, putting strain on plants and wildlife. The future looks grim for the city’s eight million trees, with a recent report from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew projecting that 73% of the trees could be at risk of dying from climate change by the end of the century.
Kew Gardens, in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, assessed over a million public trees and found that 62% of them are currently unsuitable for future climate conditions without emission reduction actions. Additionally, nearly 11% are classified as vulnerable. The impacts are already visible, with 400 trees perishing in 2022 due to extreme heat and drought conditions, symbolized by a red oak left standing in the gardens.
The heat and lack of rain have wreaked havoc in the UK, with farmers facing crop losses, food scarcity warnings, and wildfires prompting emergency alerts. London’s parks have turned yellow and brittle, while trees exhibit signs of distress, shedding leaves prematurely.
The changing climate has forced botanists to consider planting different tree species better suited to London’s warming conditions. The city is expected to resemble Barcelona’s climate by 2050, prompting research on trees that can thrive in hotter, drier weather while enduring England’s wet winters.
Paul Wood, an author specializing in London’s trees, expressed concerns about the future of the city’s iconic tree-lined streets and ancient woodlands amidst extreme heat and drought. He emphasized the irreplaceable value of these trees, some dating back a thousand years, for their historical significance and biodiversity support.
Overall, London’s urban tree canopy faces a precarious future as climate change continues to threaten its existence.
