Recent research has revealed just how bleak the future of London’s leafy landscape could be looking by the end of the century if urgent action isn’t taken. The research in question comes courtesy of the Kew Gardens Tree Collections and Arboriculture team and the Greater London Authority who assessed 1.2 million trees across the city.
With temperatures in the capital continuing to rise, their findings revealed that 62% of London’s trees have ‘low suitability’ and a further 10% of them are considered to be ‘vulnerable’. This means that by the end of the century, a whopping 72% of the capital’s urban canopy could be at risk.
The figures show just how critical it is to be selecting and planting more suitable trees whilst our urban environments continue to get warmer. Kew Gardens is working alongside the Greater London Authority on many projects to ensure that more climate-appropriate trees with higher survival rates (that can also provide pivotal cooling) are planted in London.
The species that were found to be most at risk of failure included the leafy likes of the common beech, the silver birch, and the English oak. Losing these trees would not only have a rather hefty impact on Kew Gardens’s historic horticultural landscape, but would also present a significant threat to its ecosystems and biodiversity. A scientific paper published back in 2019 reveled that approximately 2,300 species of mammals, invertebrates, fungi, birds, bryophytes, and lichens are all supported by the beloved English oak tree.
Regarding the rest of the city, urban trees acts as an essential buffer in unstable climates – and I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the weather in London has pretty much epitomised the word ‘unstable’ in recent weeks. These trees help cool the city’s streets during the scorching summer droughts and they help absorb excess water during the wildly wet winters.
Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: “Trees are vital for all life on earth, including humanity. They provide a home for a huge diversity of animals, plants and fungi. They are a source of food, rainfall, materials, cooling and great beauty.
“Yet they are threatened by climate change. The heatwave at Kew in July 2022 killed 400 of our trees. Highlighting this Climate Changed Oak brings tangible evidence to help our visitors understand that climate change is here and now and is damaging our living landscapes.”
Kevin Martin, Head of Tree Collections at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: “Highlighting dead trees is crucial as they indicate areas where landscapes are suffering from climate change, drought, disease, and environmental stress. Each tree offers important insights into ecosystem changes and where intervention is necessary. Planting more drought-tolerant trees adapted to future climate conditions can help develop healthier, more resilient environments that provide shade, support biodiversity, improve air quality, and offer protection for future generations.”
