The National Trust, the biggest conservation charity in the UK, has warned that some of the country’s most valuable heritage sites are at risk from extreme weather conditions caused by climate change. The Trust manages numerous estates across England and Wales, and has reported that recent warm and wet conditions have had a destructive impact on their land and property. Mature trees have fallen, and flooding has damaged both buildings and gardens. The charity argues that “homogenisation” related to climate change is blurring the distinctions between seasons, creating new challenges for various insect species and their predators.
In early 2024, for the first time in three centuries, Avebury Manor in Wiltshire was flooded due to heavy rainfall caused by a series of storms. Many of the Trust’s properties lack the infrastructure designed to endure these extreme weather conditions, with some still using antique drainpipes and guttering that can overflow in heavy rain, resulting in interior and exterior damage. April’s cooler and wetter conditions affected bluebells, which bloomed later than usual. Similarly, many domestic plants required extra moisture this year but have performed satisfactorily. Erratic spring weather has disrupted some wildlife species, including the rare Adonis blue butterfly, and led to the slow loss of formerly predictable seasons.
The rainy weather was, however, welcome news for peatland and tree ecosystems. Following two years of dry weather, the moist environment helped build young saplings’ sturdy root systems and relieved stress in older trees in need of water. In addition, the Suffolk coast saw the county’s first grey seal colony established at the Orford Ness National Nature Reserve. The warm weather also delayed autumn’s onset. Trees held on to their leaves longer, but the season ended abruptly in November when a cold snap and Storm Bert stripped the leaves off trees over a few days.
The mild and wet autumn favoured fungi and other moisture-loving creatures, including slugs and snails. Finally, changeable recent weather, including freezing and balmy temperatures, saw camellias in Cornwall bloom on 20 November
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