Our seasons are confused and becoming increasingly unpredictable.

If you have a garden you will have noticed the effects of this weird weather on plants and wildlife but the good news is that your garden is helping to combat climate change  – particularly if it is in the city as gardens now account for almost half of the UK’s urban green space.

The RHS have outlined ways in which our gardens  help to keep the planet green and healthy. They have sent a strong  message to Britain’s gardeners that  the humble urban backyard plays a vital environmental and ecological role in our present and future lives.

It’s something that keen horticulturalists have always suspected, but for the first time, the RHS has brought together all the published evidence in a scientific review entitled Gardening Matters: Urban Gardens.

Collating the evidence reveals four key areas in which our gardens make a difference.

* They help control urban temperatures, mitigating the effects of extreme heat and cold.

* They help prevent flooding by absorbing rainwater that would otherwise overload drainage systems.

* They have effectively become some of Britain’s best nature reserves, supporting a range of wildlife including birds, mammals and invertebrates.

*They support human health by easing stress and providing physical exercise.

 http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/pdfs/RHS-urban-greening

Think they forgot to mention one other vital benefit:

* They are a precious legacy that we can give to future generations !

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/gardening/dig-for-victory-how-your-garden-can-help-beat-climate-change-2288156.html

However, anyone who thinks that climate change will provide a simple good news story for English wine-lovers may be deluding themselves. In England, depending on what happens to the gulf stream and other variables, it might become hotter, wetter or, perhaps, even colder. All that climate change really promises is chaos and instability, which are not conditions that are beneficial for grapes or any other crop.

Until relatively recently, the English wine industry tended to rely on high-yield, cold climate Germanic vines with names like tractor manufacturers: Huxelrebe and Dornfelder among others.

Although these are still present in many vineyards, many  Sussex vignerons are now planting the classic “champagne” grapes: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The sparkling wines produced with those varieties by local producers, such as Nyetimber andRidgeview, among others, have regularly beaten champagne in international competitions and blind tastings. “The temperatures in this area are now pretty much where champagne’s were in the 1980s,” says Mark Driver. “And they made some pretty good champagne in the 70s and 80s.”

Find out more about how Sussex wine growers are already adapting to a shifting climate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/may/07/climate-change-transforming-british-wine

South East England is predicted to enjoy 21c on Bank Holiday Monday which is wonderful news but night frosts can still be a problem well into May  - take care with seedlings in particular. Here is the link to a brilliant app that warns of impending frosts:

Cold Snap Frost Warning Android App

ColdSnap! Frost Alarm is a must have application for gardeners, allotment holders and anyone else that wants a low maintenance,  low temperature warning. 

For accurate weather forecast try these sites – looks like they all think May is going to be warm which is great news  - especially as Chelsea Flower Show starts in just 2 weeks!

Met Check

This site has a brilliant gardening page which gives predictions in 3 hour sections and has soil temperature. 

The Met Office

As you would expect from the Met Office, loads of information and help. 

The Weather Channel

Local and national forecasts.

Netweather.tv – UK weather forecasts

Weather forecasts for the UK, local and national, long and short range. Other features on the site include the UK 5 minute weather radar and lightning detection.

Are you noticing any similar changes to your plants as a result of the challenging weather experienced in the UK recently?

Apparently chimeras occur where there are two DNA lines in one creature or plant. Most living things only have one set of DNA, but through mutation, either natural or artificial, chimeras are born. All variegated plants are technically chimeras too. People or animals with blotchy, differently-patterned skin or two eyes of different colour could also be suspected chimeras.

To find out more about this fascinating natural phenomena visit the RHS plant pages: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=259

Forecasters also suggest that the sun will stick around for a blazing Bank Holiday weekend.By Monday the mercury will hit a balmy and pleasant 19C.

Good news for gardeners who are busy everywhere planting seeds like mad and getting plots ready for the growing season which has been delayed by up to 4 weeks this year due to cold and wet weather.

1st May is also National Sunflower Day set up by Guerilla Gardening with the aim of encouraging everyone to go out beyond their gardens and plant sunflower seeds in the hope that they will bring beauty and health to our neighbourhoods.

https://www.facebook.com/events/263305487136573/?fref=ts

Bee populations in Britain are at ‘crisis point’ as numbers are hit by the freezing and wet weather.

Beekeepers across the country have reported a drop in colonies as a wet summer last year gave way to an extended winter. Flowers are not yet blooming and hives which survived the winter are weeks behind where they should be at this time of year, experts claim

http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/18/bee-population-at-crisis-point-as-numbers-hit-by-bad-weather-in-uk-3641125/

Bees are also being seriously hit by pesticides. Three species of bees are already extinct and others are in rapid decline.

Strong evidence points to particular pesticides being to blame for killing them. But the Environment Minister recently refused to support a European vote to stop the pesticides being used.

Now we’ve got just a few weeks to change the minister’s mind before he votes again. Let’s show him that it’s time our government stood up to the powerful pesticide industry and took action to protect our bees.

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/ban-the-pesticides-that-are-harming-our-bees#petition

It is really wonderful to feel  the warmth of the sun again even if it is now very windy. Magnolias, daffodils, tulips and other beautiful spring delights are sprouting all over the country bringing some much needed colour into our gardens after months of cold and grey days.

UK gardeners are used to every type of weather  which is what makes them extremely resilient, adaptable and prepared for any future climatic changes.

If you want to know what has been happening with the weather in recent weeks it might help to check out this interesting piece by the Met office:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/news/cold-spring-2013

If you do not have time to read the whole article then the concluding remarks are particularly interesting in relation to climate change

“March 2013 was exceptionally cold in the UK, as well as the North Atlantic and European region more generally, in the context of the last 50 years. Such climate ‘events’ lead to increased interest from the public, media, government and businesses in both the impacts of the weather on our livelihoods and infrastructure, and in the drivers of significant weather.

As is ever the case, the conditions that led to a cold March are linked to a number of different and often inter-related factors. This can also be said of the cold winter of 2010/11, the UK drought in 2010/12 and extreme summer rainfall in 2012. This makes it difficult to definitively attribute a particular ‘event’ to one simple explanation, which can make communicating the science drivers more complicated and nuanced than some audiences may wish. On the other hand, this simply reflects the richness and complexity of our climate system, which drives the weather that we experience on a daily basis.

Whilst the cold March 2013 weather is certainly unusual, it is not unprecedented or outside the expected natural variability of our climate. There is particularly heightened interest in the role of the Arctic on the UK’s weather, given rapid changes in Arctic sea ice, and on the likely changes we may observe given future decline. It is worth re-emphasising, however, that while changes in the Arctic are consistent with predisposing the climate system to cold weather in northern Europe, this is only one possible driver among several potential factors which could account for the cold March weather. What we have still to understand is the degree to which our changing climate may alter the likelihood and intensity of extreme events. With the rapidly changing Arctic, this is now high on the research agenda. ”  

In 2002 the Royal Horticultural Society published a report ‘Gardening in a Global Greenhouse’, which discussed potential challenges that gardens and gardeners in the UK were likely to face based upon climate change predictions. Ten years later, new climate projections indicate that climate change might affect gardens and gardening in a way which is different from what previously predicted.

In order to support UK gardens, gardeners and the horticulture industry, the RHS and the UoR are assessing the consequences of a changing climate, based on the latest climate models, which will be subsequently published a new report.

As part of the research, a survey across the gardening and horticulture sector is being conducted in order to investigate which factors are relevant for all the gardening parties in order to adapt to climatic changes.

To contribute your views please Take the Survey.  You should read the Information for Participants (Right click to download) before starting the survey.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Gardening-in-a-changing-climate

Our climate is changing and this survey will help gardeners everywhere to adapt and preserve our gardens for an uncertain  future.

The weather has warmed up just in time for National Gardening Week from 15th to 21st April .The RHS  have given by giving away 10,000 packets of wildflower seeds – they want to get Britain sowing!

The RHS and Mr Fothergill’s have donated 10,000 packets of annual wildflower seeds for people to sow acres of mini-meadows in plant pots and gardens. Find out how to plant a mini wildflower meadow at:

http://www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk/Wildflowers.aspx

Why is Britain going wild for Wildflowers?

We want to help the Nation plant wildflower meadows from mini-meadows in plant pots to transforming spaces in gardens. Some of our plans include hosting workshops at RHS Gardens and providing online advice, as well as our wildflower seed giveaway.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General says: “After enjoying the Olympic Park wildflower meadows in 2012 there is a great appetite from the British public to create their own version at home, which is great news for pollinating insects!”

Over the past 50 years we’ve seen a huge reduction in wildflowers in the countryside, which play a vital part in biodiversity and creating a habitat for pollinating insects. Gardens are increasingly recognised as important sources of nectar and pollen for insects. It has been estimated that the value of insect-pollinated fruits and vegetables grown in the UK is about £220 million a year. Encouraging people across the country to plant wildflowers will help protect their habitat.

http://www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk/

It appears that many exhibitors are being badly hit by the long winter and delayed arrival of spring. The Royal Horticultural Society said some growers and designers were struggling to get plants ready in time for the event. Jinny Blom, who is creating the B&Q garden in conjunction with Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale, is among several designers experiencing problems in getting plants ready. The Woodland Trust reported that spring sightings of ladybirds have fallen tenfold since last year, from 1,169 to 119, while numbers of cuckoos and hedgehogs are also substantially lower.

The Easter weekend, traditionally the busiest time of year for garden centres, has been one of the worst for trade in recent years. A number of large garden centres have reported sales down by as much as 50 per cent. Steve Ashworth, managing director of the Wyevale Nurseries chain, said sales to garden centres were down by 50 per cent in comparison with March last year, while its overall sales were down by 30 per cent. He said: “Our team had virtually nothing to do over the Easter period; we stood many people down.”

Robby Ward, owner of the Alleyn Park Garden Centre in south London, said its sales were down 46 per cent on this time last year. “It has been a horrendous March,” he said. “We have cut down on most products and are being very careful in what plants we are buying in. People who would normally spend money in March [with us] have spent it on something else. We will never recoup that.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/trouble-in-store-for-agriculture-crops-and-gardensjoin-the-economy-in-not-growing-8563101.html