London’s parks are looking particularly spectacular at the moment. The wonderful late Autumn sunshine is providing a stunning display of colours across the capital.
I took these photos in one of my favourite open spaces in the capital – Hampstead Heath which boasts 320 hectares (790 acres) of parkland covered with many thousands of trees.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampstead_Heath
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, says that London needs more parkland and trees to combat predicted rises in summer temperatures. Climate projections suggest that the average summer temperature in London could be some 3.9C higher than today by 2080, and as much as 6C to 10C on the hottest days.
The “urban heat island effect” in which buildings absorb and release heat, maintaining a higher temperature in cities than surrounding areas, means London temperatures will continue to be higher than other parts of the south-east.
A study from Manchester suggests that increasing the amount of greenery in a city by 10% could offset the higher temperatures.The mayor’s environment plan aims to increase tree cover across the capital by 5% – an extra 2m trees – by 2025.
The key to this ambitious planting scheme is to ensure that the trees planted in London will thrive in the face of a changing climate and allow the Cityto cope with these predicted warmer temperatures. To make sure this happens, a database tool has been developed by the Right Trees for London’s Changing Climate Project to allow planners, landscape designers, developers and other professionals to decide what types of tree are suitable.
It is also very useful for anyone selecting trees to plant in a London or any other city garden as it allows you to search for which type of tree suits the soil and conditions you have .Compiled with help from these organisations it can be found at: http://www.right-trees.org.uk/members/Search.aspx.
Wed, Oct 14, 2009
Climate Change, Climate Change Gardening, Trees, UK Climate Change