You may also like<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/p>\n Climate change has meant our day to day seasonal assumptions no longer stand \u2013 the growing season can be almost all year round and rainfall is unpredictable or unseasonal. This has massive implications for gardens, plants<\/a> and gardeners \u2013 full of opportunity (Mediterranean diet anybody?<\/a>) and fraught with challenge, from water management<\/a> to weed control.<\/p>\n In order to address climate change issues and make sure we are in tune with the history and heritage of the garden, we balance the influence of history with the present-day reality of sustainably caring for plants and garden features in a changing context. This has always been the case in heritage gardens \u2013 at Ham the River Thames doesn\u2019t freeze like it used to, for example! However now \u2018right plant, right place\u2019 is even more relevant. We apply \u201817th-century, right plant, right place\u2019 to our formal, period planting decisions with an eye to the plant\u2019s lifespan and climate predictions.<\/p>\n The biggest challenge is correct information: we need accurate data on changing weather patterns and how the garden will need to adapt. We have just planted an orchard of 30 apple trees<\/a> and we have factored the climate in 30-50 years into our design and plant choice decisions.<\/p>\n A number of recent summers have been particularly hot, impacting on both seasonal bedding displays and formal lawns. Our Victorian-inspired bedding schemes have required more regular watering, though with a carefully targeted irrigation system, water usage is both efficient and kept to a minimum.<\/p>\n When it comes to adapting to climate change, whilst also representing the history and heritage of the garden, we look to the archive of historic documents at Cliveden. They offer details of how some of the gardens were laid out in the past. One garden area previously had a long border filled with aromatic plants, the silver and grey foliage better able to cope with hotter summers. A return to this planting style, even in part, would enable the gardeners to grow a more sustainable variety of plants with a potentially reduced watering requirement, while still remaining true to the garden\u2019s history and spirit.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n You may also like<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> As Lyme is situated 250m above sea level on the edge of the Peak District, the climate has always presented a challenge to its gardeners. For us, the milder winters are allowing us to extend the range of plants we grow and we\u2019ve moved our bedding-out date forward by two weeks. On the downside, prolonged dry spells followed by torrential rain have increased the risk of flash flooding.<\/p>\n The biggest challenge we\u2019re facing at the moment is the risk of flash flooding. We\u2019re looking at a range of methods to reduce the risk of flooding and make the garden more resilient to flooding should it occur. Plans include slowing the flow of water draining from the moorland above the garden, improving the drainage network, subtly adjusting levels within the garden to contain flood water and adjusting planting schemes to make them more flood resilient.<\/p>\n We are transitioning into more environmentally sound practices across all aspects of the garden. For the past five years, as petrol and diesel equipment is decommissioned, we have replaced it with lithium battery equipment. We limit journeys by using local suppliers wherever possible.<\/p>\n We plant native species in our woodlands, hedgerows<\/a> and formal borders<\/a> as much as we can. We also choose flowering plants<\/a> that are accessible to pollinators. There is concern that our gardens will become drier and hotter and while that has been true in recent years, we also experience wet and mild winters. This hasn\u2019t yet affected our planting mix but has impacted our timings and aftercare. As to the future, we will continue to create homes for wildlife<\/a> and showcase organic, sustainable garden<\/a> management. Recently we altered our mowing regime to accommodate more wild grassy<\/a> areas and adjusted cutting heights to encourage plants such as dandelions, selfheal and clover to provide nectar and pollen food sources.<\/p>\n Climate change has meant we are very conscious of our water use. Watering at cooler times of the day<\/a>, harvesting rainwater and using mulches are all strategies we employ. An example is the recently adopted no-dig method for raising vegetables, which is hugely beneficial in terms of water use and of course the amount of weeding and digging needed to maintain. In short we can get more produce from a smaller footprint with less input of labour and water. We aim to future-proof as much as possible, but not at the cost of heritage.<\/p>\n In the last few years we\u2019ve seen a lot of new pests and diseases<\/a> that are linked to globalisation and the changing climate. Stressed plants are more susceptible and less able to defend against pathogens and pests and we are always mindful of this when sourcing replacements \u2013 thinking 20, 50 or even 100 years ahead.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n You may also like<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/p>\n For the past four years we have been installing irrigation<\/a> to deal with hotter summers and drought as a result of climate change. We are also making and spreading more mulch (around 8-10 tonnes a year) to help retain moisture. In some parts of the garden lawn areas are being left longer to help the grass better resist stress.<\/p>\n To balance how we\u2019re adapting with making sure the garden\u2019s history and ethos is preserved we choose plants that are more resilient, yet still in keeping with the ethos of the garden. For example, grasses, silver-leaved plants and later-flowering plants like Rudbeckia and Helenium are resilient but still fit the colour scheme and flow of the garden.<\/p>\n Our biggest challenge is coping with extremes. For example, the borders are south facing and \u2018bake\u2019 in summer, yet in wetter winters can become waterlogged because of the heavy clay soil. A lavender garden<\/a> sits in a low-lying area, also vulnerable to waterlogging. Much work is done adding grit and aerating the soil to help plants withstand these extreme conditions.<\/p>\n Climate change has provoked two severe floods at Wordsworth House, in 2009 and 2015. This has prompted some plants to be repositioned in the garden. For example, herbs have been moved from the rear garden to the walled garden where they will drain more quickly. Geraniums have been planted around the rose bed, rather than lavender, which would recover better from waterlogging.<\/p>\n A major challenge has been clearing the thick, sticky silt and debris deposited on the garden by flood water. It\u2019s important to remove this quickly, particularly from the evergreen plants. We use soft conservation brushes to clear the foliage.<\/p>\n We balance history and the changes needed to adapt to climate by making sure we know where period-correct plants that are grown peat-free which helps care for the environment that Wordsworth so loved. We\u2019re preparing for the future by preparing for another extreme:\u00a0long, dry summers.<\/a><\/p>\n You may also like<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Our irrigation water management is now more conservative and targeted. The property has a good supply of harvested water, stored in tanks to maintain an adequate reservoir. We are making significant moves to reduce our carbon emissions including going peat free and reducing our reliance on petrol or diesel-powered equipment.<\/p>\n At Hidcote<\/a>, we are fortunate because Lawrence Johnston \u2013 the creator of the garden \u2013 collected and grew many plants from Mediterranean climate regions, modifying the growing conditions in different parts of the garden to accommodate these. This gives us scope to adjust the composition of planting schemes, while continuing to use many of Johnston\u2019s favourite or special plants.<\/p>\n The biggest challenge posed by climate change is an increasing frequency of abnormal weather events, such as high winds and storms and prolonged summer dry spells, causes stress and damage to many of our trees and shrubs.<\/p>\n![\""Conrad\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2019\/08\/Look-Inside-template_960x413-9d75e5b.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Conrad\\"")
<\/div>Rosie Fyles, head gardener at Ham House and Garden, Surrey<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Anthony Mason, head gardener at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Ash\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2019\/11\/GettyImages-1048918064-69b13c0.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Ash\\"")
<\/div>Sarah Witts, head gardener at Lyme Park, Cheshire<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2020\/02\/1434291-f3d9225.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Cailean Stewart, gardener at Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2020\/02\/1380068-25fa7f0.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Dene Wood, head gardener at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Marc\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2020\/01\/aa-GILLNewTalentSept19-003868-a84de51-scaled.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Marc\\"")
<\/div>Damian Mitchell, head gardener at Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset<\/a><\/h3>\n
Amanda Thackeray, gardener at Wordsworth House and Garden, Cumbria<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""The\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2019\/09\/27102847894_156b15cc3c_o-ac8ff4d.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"The\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Judith Teasdale, project curator at Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Flic Archer, assistant head gardener Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex<\/a><\/h3>\n