By Isle of Wight Observer
The annual New Year’s Day flower count at Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG) is being said to illustrate the effects of climate change.
This year’s 173 different types of flowers equates to 60 per cent of the peak number count of 287 in 2015.
This year’s relatively mild winter (12°C when the count took place) might be expected to lead to even more plants flowering; however, November’s quick chill and December’s light quality and quantity was poor due to overcast conditions. Without the usual temperature drops of winter, needed for many plants to flower, spring blooms have remained in bud, so this year’s count is mainly late-flowering plants rather than a mix of both early and late.
Compared against data from many years of records, it seems the plants are telling the story of climate change. It is becoming increasingly difficult to forecast flowering for many plants; magnolia can flower anywhere between Christmas Eve and April and camellias, loved for their spring blooms, are now sometimes fully open before midwinter.
A walk around Ventnor Botanic Garden is a delight at this time of year, with crisp fresh air and stunning flowers to enjoy. In addition to being a beautiful and tranquil garden, VBG also has a mission to educate visitors about climate change. As well as information boards, the Undercliff’s micro-climate enables VBG to showcase climate change as it happens, due to the evolving plant mix that has been created by warmer and at times chaotic weather patterns.
