The cold weather continues to challenge many plants in the UK with very severe frosts and temperatures of -8 recorded in the South East tonight.

The RHS has useful information about how some plants protect themselves from frost and suggests things you can do to help them survive the current freezing temperatures:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=704

Visit the Tropical Extravaganza at Kew Gardens

Be transported to a tropical rain forest with a visual delight of exotic plants and flowers

Listen to wonderful recordings of exotic birds and animals that transport you overseas

http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/tropical-extravaganza-2012/

The team of RHS experts solved myriad enquiries which ranged from problems associated with pests and diseases to plant identification. Many of the queries pertained to the unpredictable temperatures throughout the year.

Chief Horticultural Advisor, Guy Barter said, ‘Last year was a record year for RHS Advisory. We had lots of enquiries from members about how the unusual weather would affect the growth and development of their plants.’

The finding continues a trend in which nine of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record have occurred since the year 2000.
 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2011-temps.html

Time to consider different trees/plants to plan for a warmer yet unpredictable future?

 Love these lemons growing outdoors in Cornwall last summer.

According to UKCIP, predictions are that the growing season could lengthen by a further two months by 2050 . In some southern areas , the growing season may even run continuously all through the year.http://www.ukcip.org.uk/faq/

The effects of climate change on gardens in the UK will be challenging, but there is a silver lining – we are set to be able to grow some wonderful plants and flowers - what an exciting future for UK gardeners!

Here what the BBC have to say about climate change gardening:

The impact of climate change on gardening is likely to have far-reaching effects on the average domestic garden and also the many historic gardens around the country. The predictions made by scientists are not just some sci-fi view of gardening for future generations. Gardeners around the world are already experiencing some of the effects, with heavy rainfall over the past few winters and periods of summer drought having an impact on what we plant and how we maintain our gardens.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/weather_climatewarming.shtml

Having just blogged about planting seeds to” grow bread” in the garden, I thought I should point out that actually reducing the size of your lawn is the path to a greener garden.With increasing pressure on water supplies and the need to reduce carbon emissions,  reducing our lawns – or maybe getting rid of them completely -  is becoming an extremely topical issue.

In the USA, 58 million Americans spend £30 billion a year maintaining over 25 million acres of lawn. Add  a staggering 3 million tons of fertilisers and you can see why the move to reduce the number of lawns is really gathering momentum in America. This includes a national campaign  at http://www.foodnotlawns.com which is attracting interest from the green movement and equal amounts of  opposition from parties with a vested interest in the supply of turf and garden chemicals.

I realise that English gardens are defined by their immaculate lawns so opposition to foodnotlawns might be high in the UK. However, read these few facts to help decide whether your lawn stays or goes:

*  The pollution emitted from a power mower in just one hour is equal to the amount from a car being driven 45 miles. http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/wildones/handbk/wo8.html

*Lawns use ten times as many chemicals per acre as industrial farmland. Some 60% of all fertilisers and pesticides used on lawns run off into our groundwater and evaporate into the air, causing widespread pollution

* Lawns in the United States consume around 270 billion gallons of water a week—enough to water 81 million acres of organic vegetables, all summer long.In fact, lawns use more equipment, labour, fuel, and agricultural toxins than industrial farming, making lawns the largest agricultural sector in the United States.

* It’s not just the residential lawns that are wasted on grass. There are around 700,000 athletic grounds and 14,500 golf courses in the United States, many of which used to be fertile, productive farmland that was lost to developers when the local markets bottomed out.

 EXPLORE THESE IDEAS FOR REDUCING THE SIZE OF YOUR LAWN

Plant a hedge. The least-used parts of your lawn are most likely on the edge of your property. Create privacy and visual interest by planting a “tapestry hedge” with mixed shrubs.
• Build a pond, patio, or island bed in the center of your lawn. Create a visual focal point, a place for entertaining, or a habitat for attracting wildlife.
• Create a tree island. If you have one or more trees in the middle of your yard, chances are the grass that grows underneath isn’t that healthy. Why not plant ground cover, perennials, or woodland plants under your tree instead?[3]
• Devote part of your yard to wildflowers, drought-tolerant grasses, and other native plantings.
• Practice xeriscaping using plants to replace part of your water-hungry lawn

Explore this web-site for more inspirational ideas http://www.lesslawn.com/

An application has been submitted to Kent County Council seeking consent to excavate shingle from this precious corner of the coast for use in flood defenses in neighbouring counties

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/15/shingle-plan-dungeness

LATEST: Kenty County Council is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 at 6.30 pm at the Lydd Community Hall (Manor Road, Lydd, TN29 9HU). http://www.lovedungeness.org/

Entitled ” Gardening in the Global Greenhouse, the impact of climate change on our gardens”, it clearly sets out  that our gardens are in trouble and face an uncertain future.It is an impressive document, covering the key issues that will concern anyone who gardens and is well worth the time to read through its impressive and very detailed 17 pages.

The introduction is by one of the UK’s most passionate gardeners , HRH Prince Charles, who poignantly expresses his concerns about the threat of climate change. I remember reading his powerful words for the first time and feeling very moved . Here are just a few lines that I am sure will make you want to read more:

“Almost all scientists now agree that the British climate is likely to  change significantly in years to come. The precise nature of these changes is still uncertain, but it is both an alarming and sobering thought that some of the nation’s best loved gardens might become unsustainable due to changing climatic conditions”. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-gardening_global_greenhouse_summary.pdf

Perfect weather for getting out into the garden!