Multiple reports describe how Britain’s hotter, drier summers are stressing trees, with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, showing clear effects from the 2022 heatwave. Scientists and garden researchers say some trees respond by shedding large branches as a survival mechanism to reduce water loss when soil moisture is limited. The heatwave is linked to cases of tree death, including an oak tree displayed at Kew as a visible example of climate impacts. Kew reports that more than 400 trees were lost during the 2022 event. The stress is associated with hot, drought-like conditions that leave trees with insufficient water, increasing the risk of fatal internal blockages or failures in their water-conducting tissues. Looking ahead, researchers warn that more trees may become vulnerable as heat and drought intensify, with estimates suggesting that a substantial share could be at risk by the late 21st century. The findings point to the need for adaptation in how cities and gardens manage trees, including considering more drought-tolerant species and approaches.
Heatwaves cause trees at Kew to drop branches and die as scientists warn of future vulnerability
Multiple reports describe how Britain’s hotter, drier summers are stressing trees, with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, showing clear effects from the 2022 heatwave. Scientists and garden researchers say...
- Hotter, drier summers linked to climate change increase stress on British trees.
- Kew reports losing more than 400 trees during the 2022 heatwave.
- Some trees shed large branches during extreme heat as a moisture-conservation response.
- Tree death is associated with drought and heat stress that can lead to fatal damage.
- Researchers warn that a large fraction of Kew’s trees could be vulnerable by 2090.
British summers now see large branches falling from trees due to climate change. This summer branch drop is a stress response to conserve vital moisture. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, lost over 400 trees during the 2022 heatwave. Hot droughts and dry soil stress trees, potentially causing fatal embolisms. Future urban planning must adapt by planting drought-resistant species for resilience.
3 hours agoIf you visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, on the edge of London, you will see a brightly painted skeleton of a dead oak tree. The tree, known as the climate-changed oak, succumbed in the heat wave of 2022. Instead of removing it, Kew left it in place as a reminder that climate change is already taking its toll on Britain's trees.
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