Climate Change

Climate change

Mike Currill — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:20:16 GMT

Yes my garden has been affected. My Pirius has benefitted from a cooler, wetter winter than we have had in recent years. It had far more flowers than ever before and has grown quite considerably.

I agree that our climate is changing buit only in so far as it is part of the normal cycle of climactic variation, after all how did the Romans grow grapes as far north as York without global warming?

Feel like crying with all this rain

Rae — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:49:57 GMT

It must be global warming I really cannot believe this amount of rain for 3 years in a row. My beautiful blood red lillies came out and got rained on and ruined and now I have been waiting and waiting for new canna and at least its flowered in all its glory - came home tonight to deluges of rain and the poor thing is just soggy and the flowers about to fall with the amount of water poured on to them. The wind has blown all my clematis flowers to bits ...... sorry just feeling sad and wanted to share. Crocosmia lasted 5 minutes aaaaaaaagh!

Climate Change bamboozles taxpayers

HarryOnNorthDowns — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:11:58 GMT

For the past 70 years I have worked outdoors every single day - except for six years in the army during the second World War and a couple of hospital visits. In almost every daylight hour since leaving school I have been outside growing plants and farming, closely monitoring the weather.

The world's public have been bamboozled by verbal wizardry from political mush they have taken from the pseudo scientists employed by governments. Never has so much inexact tripe been disseminated in order to raise taxes. The spivs' scam of "carbon swaps" should be rescinded at once, and an investigation made to find out if any parliamentarians, lawyers or bankers have made money out of it. Incidentally, regarding pollution, the much maligned tree X Cupressocyparis leylandii removes some toxic chemicals from the atmosphere and converts them into fertilizers.

The climate has changed since the formation of the world. Well over 90% of the warmth upon Earth arrives from the sun's radiation(s), possibly 3% man's activities, and a little from volcanic emissions and radioactivity decay from the centre of the Earth. The sun's cycles are mostly unknown.

The Meteorological Office stated recently there has been no global warming this century (granted only eight years) and expects records to show 2008 to be the coldest so far this century.

The recent cold spell, with sharp air frost, failed by a whisker to become a strong Easterly fetch from the Arctic via Siberia, Western Russia to Northern Europe, as the synoptic situation did not quite develop to form. The last such spell was in 1976, lasting five weeks into February with frost, day and night, and gales even in London. The worst day was 30th January 1976, with Max -1C, Min -5C, with Force 8 NE. The penetrating frost got into the ground 18 inches and froze water supply pipes. It killed my 20 year old 8 ft high Trachycarpus fortunei. One calm, clear night -18C air frost (screened) was recorded at my home. Nearby a record low for England was registered at Chaldon at -19.5C. Such a spell must return soon, probably lasting weeks, and would wipe out hundreds of thousands of half-hardy plant material.

If the coming year is as bad or worse than the last two I predict we will have a mini ice age lasting perhaps 100 years, such as Britain has had twice since the Romans left. The Scots abandoned farmlands. It is much better to be too warm than too cold.

My holding on the North Downs is three-quarters of a mile from the escarpment, where the South Westerly winds deposit more than my fair share of rain. The chalk is between one and five feet down. There are no ditches on the downland as it is so free-draining, but it cannot cope with the new rainfall pattern. It was plum growing land. My little plummery previously produced 10 cwt of fruit per annum but was wiped out seven years ago with water often flowing on and off for weeks. The trees half-leafed out, then died.

Observations follow of some changes noted in 2008 at my home, and published in my seed exchange list :

- Rainfall in the year to 31 December 2008 : J 5.13", F 1.90", M 4.90", A 3.09", M 2.68", J 1.54", J 2.14", A 3.47", S 3.76", O 3.52", N 4.30", D 2.70" = 39.13 inches total in the year 2008 (approximately 25% above long-term average).

- The world cooling of the past three years manifested itself here in many adverse ways during 2008. A mild and very wet winter effectively continued for the rest of the year, with quite frequent incursions of arctic air. Just four summer-like days were recorded in 2008. Parts of the autumn were dry and sunny, at times, but the temperatures still below normal. Snow laid for 48 hours in October, November and December. This was the first time such occurred in 52 years here.

- At the end of July an incursion of arctic air soon had a number of Tilia and Acer trees rapidly developing autumnal coloured leaves, which of course cannot re-colour, and subsequently fell early.

- A large number of plants were adorned with rotting seed capsules, in particular Lilium spp.

- Not one honey bee was observed. The first appearing bumble bees were wiped out by the cold and wet, likewise wasps. Only one small wasp nest was found.

- The damsons and related small plums flowered early and for a long time. No fruit set, presumably because it was too cold and wet for the pollen to germinate.

- Early potatoes (Foremost) developed a few tubers, and went into dormancy.

- A row of parsnips sown late (mid April) produced only three seedlings, the rest of the seeds sown mid-May produced a good germination. In December they still tried to grow, producing 25% of normal weight.

- On the plus side, the Asian roses were magnificent.

STOP PRESS - Australia reports January 2009 temperatures of 117F recorded (but higher readings reported 100 years ago).

We could have fun with this. A recent survey of Members of Parliament - of all parties - asked "How is the world temperature measured?" None knew. What about a survey of those who keep vehemently pushing "climate change"?

The real calamity coming for Earth is gross overpopulation.

I wonder if anyone here agrees with anything in my debut posting…?

Bananas in the Garden

Bill Z — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 17:12:29 GMT

Global warming!!. Well somthing strange is happening, I have banana plants fruiting in My garden, I am thinking of applying for a Fair Trade subsidy topromote the Sussex Banana trade

Italian alpines

Digger — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 09:15:17 GMT

In the latest issue of the garden there is a short article. The article states that "alpine plants" in the Italian Alps have been found growing at an altitude much much higher than ever before. The author assumes that this is due to climate change and the plants find cooler conditions higher up because lower down the mountain is getting warmer. The presumption is that the plants will go as high as they can and then as the climate warms the plants can't go any higher and will die out in the wild. I am not sure what to make of it? if seed has travelled up the mountain incidentally(on birds feet or on the wind etc) obviously the conditions are now correct for germination and growth, where previously they were not. this does lead on e to think that the climate must be warming, but are the alpine plants dying out at their previous location? If the plants are failing at the lower position then i think we have "blown it" and we must accept the inevitable warming scenario. fortunately seed from the plants has been stored for the future.

Composting bad for the environment?

Digger — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:13:22 GMT

Well who's read the latest issue of the garden???page 74 the first article below the wildlife one re composting if not done properly creates methane which is 20 times more damaging to the environment??? than c02 what do people believe? this is just the type of thing that conflicts with what we have been told previously, i am so hacked off with conflicting advice from all corners in last months gardeners world Monty Don was warning us of the serious dangers of deep digging which could help to create greenhouse gases , I wonder with so many "learned" people giving us wildly conflicting opinions and advice what the real story is I am so fed up with this nonsense and bullcr**!

Sowing and Planting Times for Scotland

Beanie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:40:21 GMT

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and also pretty new to gardening (I have only been growing veg for 2 seasons) so would greatly appreciate any advice. I live in Angus, Scotland and I would like to know if there is a rule of thumb for how long I should delay sowing and planting out compared to the dates specified on seed packets. I have been told to delay by anything from 2 to 6 weeks - any views?

Thnaks very much

Outdoor Peaches in Scotland

Rob202 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:34:17 GMT

On the subject of climate change, it was mentioned on this site that it may become possible to grow peaches out-of doors in Scotland some day. I've been doing so for quite a few years. I live in Glasgow and have a dwarf peach tree growing against the wall of my house and although the tree is very small, I get an abundance of peaches. I don't give it any protection at all, although I do pollinate the flowers with cotton wool in the spring because of the lack of insects so early in the year. The problem isn't so much growing them - it is getting them to ripen so far north in a poor summer! In a good summer however, they do ripen much better.

Rob202

Daffs out with the last of the sweet peas

Susan Francies — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:18:11 GMT

I have just been given by a neighbour the last of her sweet peas and I have Narcissus Paper White out in my garden even though it is November. It must be a first to have both blooms at the same time in a vase. The narcissus in the vase is one that has blown over.

Sue

Not again

Digger — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:56:26 GMT

Great we've just got the local weather forecast on the wireless and we're expecting a force 10 for tomorrow!! OMG I hope the greenhouses can stand up to it.

real-time rain information

Bee — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:57:20 GMT

There's a new free website www.raintoday.co.uk showing real time rainfall across the UK. You can search by postcode or location, and zoom in to street level.

Hyacinths in September!!

foxglove — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:02:34 GMT

I have seen hyacinth bulbs in leaf with flower buds showing in a garden. The bulbs are in pots, & they are up approx 2inches.Also azaleas in flower.

Where have the seasons gone? Each season seems to be merging into one long one.

Reporting for Duty Sah

schol49 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:36:54 GMT

Exciting News from The Beeb Scotland

'Survival zones' for butterflies

Ten "survival zones" are key to saving rare butterfly species from becoming extinct, according to Butterfly Conservation Scotland (BCS).

The areas identified include Highland Perthshire, Lochaber, North Argyll, Solway and Upper Deeside.

BCS has previously warned that climate change threatens some species.

It said Scotland had become a refuge for butterflies in decline in England and careful management of the zones could safeguard their future.

BCS director, Paul Kirkland, said changes to farming and forestry practices have affected habitats.

He said: "Butterfly Conservation Scotland has identified these 10 Butterfly Survival Zones where we will be focusing our new conservation strategy to re-connect isolated colonies to secure their future.

North Argyll - especially around Loch Creran - pearl-bordered fritillary, chequered skipper and marsh fritillary

Lorne and Knapdale - marsh fritillary and pearl-bordered fritillary

Lochaber - especially Loch Arkaig to Roy Bridge - chequered skipper, pearl-bordered fritillary and marsh fritillary

Upper Deeside - pearl-bordered fritillary

Badenoch and Strathspey - pearl-bordered fritillary

Highland Perthshire - including Rannoch and Breadalbane - pearl-bordered fritillary

Solway - especially Mabie Forest - pearl-bordered fritillary

Mull - marsh fritillary

Islay - marsh fritillary

Moray Firth - especially Culbin - pearl-bordered fritillary

"Although butterflies are small insects, we need to think big to save them.

"Our new focus works with landowners in these key areas to restore habitats, allowing butterflies to spread over a wider area."

The organisation hopes to encourage landowners to use European and government grants to improve and restore habitats.

Projects include introducing managed grazing by livestock of woodlands to create suitable areas for pearl-bordered fritillary and chequered skipper, and restoring grazing on abandoned farmland for the marsh fritillary.

Mr Kirkland said: "Scotland's butterflies have been preserved by landowners, crofters and foresters who have chosen to continue to manage their land in traditional ways, especially in the north and west.

"We do not want to follow England's example of abandoning these practices which has led to these species disappearing."

The "survival zones" announcement comes as parent body, Butterfly Conservation, celebrates its 40th birthday.

It is the world's biggest organisation concerned with Lepidoptera - the name for the order of insects that include butterflies and moths.

Other bodies involved in the new strategy include Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Scottish Agricultural College and Local Biodiversity Action Plan officers.

Glasgow and SW Scotland Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Conserving and Recording the butterflies & moths of SW Scotland

The Glasgow & SW Scotland branch area now has 34 species of butterfly after the recent arrival from England of the Small & Essex Skippers. There is currently no definitive list of moths for the branch area but being the most southerly of the three Scotland branches, the Glasgow & SW Scotland branch very likely has the greatest number of species.

The branch area includes Dumfries & Galloway, Ayrshire, Greater Glasgow, Stirlingshire, Argyll, the Argyll islands, Dunbartonshire & Loch Lomond. This includes Scotland's first National Park: Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. These regions include a diverse range of landscapes providing a range of habitats from the fertile central lowlands and coastal parts of Ayrshire/Dumfries & Galloway to the moorland of more inland areas of these counties and to the rugged mountain scenery of the southern highlands and Argyll and to the unique scenery and habitats of the Argyll islands.

This diversity of habitats in the branch area is reflected in the distribution of some butterflies and moths. For example, the Mountain Ringlet is only found at altitudes above 300m in the southern Highlands, the Scotch Argus is not found in lowland areas of the branch area except in Argyll where it is found down to sea level. There are some spectacular moths of moorland in the branch area including the Emperor Moth, the Northern Eggar & Great Brocade.

The key butterfly species in the branch area are the Chequered Skipper & Marsh Fritillary in parts of Argyll, the Large Heath which lives in lowland and blanket bogs in various parts of SW Scotland, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary which has an important stronghold in Argyll and the Mountain Ringlet in the southern highlands.

The key moth species are the burnet moths of Argyll and the Argyll islands - Slender Scotch Burnet; New Forest Burnet & Transparent Burnet - and other western species including the Barred Tooth-Stripe, Square Spotted Clay, Argent & Sable & Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk Moth.

MOUNTAIN RINGLET SURVEYS ON SCOTTISH MOUNTAINS 2008

The Mountain Ringlet was designated a UK BAP species in 2007 on the basis of declines at lower altitudes which are thought to be caused by climate change. Moreover, this butterfly is certainly under-recorded in Scotland owing to its remote mountain habitat. These are two reasons to get out and survey this butterfly this summer. To these two reasons can be added a third. The Scottish mountains are fantasic places to be on a fine summers day. The flight period of the Mountain Ringlet is from late June to early August.

The Mountain Ringlet has a distribution centred on the southern Highlands of Scotland stretching from Ben Lomond in the south to Ben Nevis and Creag Meagaidh in the north. It is not found on the Grampians in general but there are records from Loch an Eilean, Aviemore and Glendoll. The reason for the absence from the Grampians is the dominance of heather here as Mountain Ringlet requires grassy mountains with abundant Mat-grass, its foodplant. However, there are many grassy mountains further north in the west highlands of Scotland on which there are no Mountain Ringlet records: the mountains of Kintail for example. Is this a genuine absence or is it simply under-recorded here or is the habitat not right in Kintail?

Click here for further details on the survey methodology. A fine summers day with either unbroken sunshine or long sunny spells is required and it is essential that several transects per mountain are obtained from a range of altitudes. Data from any Scottish mountain would be welcome as the Mountain Ringlet is certainly under-recorded and negative results are needed to define the true distribution of the Mountain Ringlet. While the Mountain Ringlet is unlikely to be found on the Grampian mountains which are dominated by heather, it is possible that by selecting areas with less heather and more grass, it might be found outside the two known areas of Loch an Eilean and Glendoll. Some example mountains presented on the survey page relate to the Glasgow & SW Scotland branch and give an idea of how many 1km squares may be found on the south-facing aspect of a mountain on which Mountain Ringlet may be found.

If you have a GPS with the facility to download tracks & waypoints to a computer, it would be brilliant if you could record your track and save a waypoint for each Mountain Ringlet you see. This would provide superb information on the distribution of Mountain Ringlet on a mountain.

Thought this may interest you all

hailstine as big as marbles

Digger — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:13:51 GMT

As I am sat here it has just begun to rain down hailstone the size of marbles! we had loads of rain earlier on and now this!! in July.

Possible climate change scenarios PART 2

chrissyd — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:30:02 GMT

Dear all, I was really interested to read the debate on this subject and have tried twice to post some info that might help understanding of the matter but without success - hence a separate posting.

If you'd like a quick, easy, apolitical read about global warming, try Mayer Hillman's 'How we can save the planet' http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141016924,00.html

Then, once you've got the basics, and, as long as you don't have any razor blades in the house, try James Lovelock's 'The Revenge of Gaia' - also a short Penguin book (no, I don't work for Penguin). You might not agree with all he says, but his ideas are thought provoking (he tackles the nuclear energy debate head on). Lovelock is an octagenarian living in and loving the Devon country, so he has some cred (with me, anyway). http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780713999143,00.html

For those of you who prefer TV media, try TED Talks on the internet - there are some interesting presentations on climate change, oil supply, etc. by Al Gore and Amory Lovins. Also, one which might answer some of the population questions raised by bloggers is by Hans Rosling - fascinating presentation by a great presenter. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/92

My own view is that the science of climate change is robust but it's communicated very poorly, in ways that confuse and cause disbelief rather than ensure understanding and encourage a shared commitment to address the issue.

Hopefully, the above references might help to resolve this issue in some small way.

chrissyd.

Possible climate change scenarios

Philip Bolt — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:21:48 GMT

The January issue of 'The Garden' on the possible results of climate change due to global warming seems to have adopted without question the scenario that the UK will experience warm/wet winters and drier Summers in years to come. I found no mention of the possibility that the melting of the Greenland ice-cap will so dilute the North Atlantic that the Atlantic conveyor will be turned off, thus removing the warming effect of the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift and giving the UK a climate commensurate with its latitude. This is usually quoted as being that of Labrador but not the Labrador of today but that of a globally warmed Labrador. In fact, if this happens one possibility is that the UK could end up with a climate much the same as we have had in the last decade! [See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutdown_of_thermohaline_circulation] Therefore, we should be a little more conservative than is suggested in some of the articles. Don't run out stock up on half-hardy trees or to create acres of Mediterranean garden. Rather do what the careful gardener has always done: garden for your location in terms of climate and soil. If something dies, find out why and, if it's due to excess or too little water, too high or low a temperature, then don't replace it. But don't be too pro-active!

Gale force winds

Digger — Sun, 25 May 2008 15:36:20 GMT

At the moment we are in the grip of gale force winds up here trees have got branches blown off and a lot of damage is happening in the garden, even heavy terracotta pots have been blown over, We have just had a severe weather warning from sky news for tommorow it says gale force winds again, yet on the met office official website, it gives todays weather for the North West of England as nice warm dry weather and no mention of windy weather, even worse it gives the same false information for tommorow?

frost tonight?

Digger — Sat, 17 May 2008 17:45:19 GMT

After reading sue1002,'s post that the night time temperatures are going to be cold i checked on the met office 5 day forecast and we are to expect a ground frost here tonight and for the next three nights? it is cooler but it doesn't feel cold enough to freeze, but I have decided to err on the side of caution and i have just spent the last half an hour putting all my tender plants back inside their respective greenhouses. For the last few nights as things have been out hardening off I have been using horticultural fleece to cover things, because i couldn't be bothered taking it all in and out every day/night. I haven't lit the parrafin heater or set the frost guard on the electric heater because things should be okay inside (i hope). what a swizz I was really hoping that we had seen the last of any really harsh weather. This part of the world is a really harsh and unforgiving place the climate really is my enemy today has been wet and cold about 8 degrees celsius but with the gusty wind it felt more like 5 degrees. I do hope that my garden will shrug off any night frosts. I shall be seriously hacked off if the frost damages my garden or my flowers on the apple trees.

North Lorne Beginning April Report

schol49 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:04:49 GMT

Ground level Trees starting just to leaf up

Daffodils been Blooming about a month now

but on High Ground Trees still coy with Greening Up

tadpoles swimming

Visit from a Drake yesterday

Wife Saw a Heron on Black Lynne

Still Snow on Mull Mountains

Rhubarb coming Up

Tulip Fritillaries

Tulip Black

Coming Out

Wife says everywhere in Locale

FoxGloves Abound

Massive Numbers expected.

Wet and warm summer 2008

sue1002 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:40:37 GMT

It looks like this year's summer is going to be a warm one but could also be quite wet http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7328843.stm

I hope it's not going to be as wet as last year but a bit warmer will certainly help the chillies to produce a nice heat.

greenhouse protecion from storm damage

jeremy hopkins — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:19:02 GMT

Have just experienced storm force winds which have broken 15 two foot square panes of glass in my recently erected 6'x8' aluminium framed Hall's greenhouse which is protected by a 4' high dry stone dyke on one side and at one end. Does anyone have any sensible suggestions for protecion from such future storms such as covering the whole structure in bubble wrap or sheets of perspex for instance. It seems pointless replacing the glass if this situation is likely to be repeated. On telephoning Hall's to enquire about the cost of toughened glass they stated it would be £10.50 a sheet! making it prohibitively expensive to convert the entire greenhouse. Any suggestions would be gratefully received,thank you

Is it spring already?

Rae — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:48:50 GMT

Yesterday (12th December) I looked out of the window and there was a most beautiful butterfly (orange and black) just fluttering about the garden - I felt so sorry for it I wanted to entice it through the window where at least it could die in the warm! So I walked round the garden - my hydrangea that did not flower last year as it was a baby has buds, my Ahmadi (cant spell) Clematis is flowering, my little yellow rose in a pot is also flowering.... and yet it has no reason to be fooled - its 30 mph winds, really cold and its raining! What is going on!!

Weekend weather

Digger — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:00:51 GMT

Hey, I've just watched the weather report for this weekend!!!!! it's going to be grand all day Saturday and grand all day Sunday.This weather is well overdue,I only hope that it's going to last if we get grand weather from now on it go some way to make up for the rip-off excuse of a Summer we had last year. I will be spending all weekend outside.It won't be warm enough for shorts and flip flops though.

Outbreak of common sense

bogweevil — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:31:21 GMT

[url=http://www.jhortscib.com/editorial_jan08.htm]http://www.jhortscib.com/editorial_jan08.htm[/url] - enjoy. Boggy

Career opportunities for a changing climate

Paul M Murray — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:23:52 GMT

I have had a keen meteorological interest in the changing UK climate for many years and keep daily (screened ) temperature data . I also grow many palms and exotics in my garden in Stockport, England and have about 10 years experience in maintaining and growing hardy sub-tropical and Mediterranean plants. I am about to take an RHS recognised Diploma , specialising in Palms and Cycads and wondered whether anyone could advise me on suggested career opportunities within this field. I Should add that my current job is within the insurance profession with which I am immensely disillusioned. [Edited on 08/01/2008]