This item on BBC news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckjw5zg52ng5o is well worth a read. Noteworthy points made include eg
- On the expected lifespan of some of London’s established trees, “Where we’d expect there to be another 150 odd years’ left growth in them, they might only have between 50 and 70 years now”. Certainly two large oaks on the boundary with Hicks Avenue appear to have died quite quickly over the last 2-3 years, whereas before that they certainly had full leaf cover and looked healthy.
- More generally, it is now estimated that “72% of London’s current public realm tree population will struggle under future climate conditions”
- You might start seeing a lot more of plantings such as Agave montana
On a more positive note, just before the hosepipe ban came in, I managed to give two heavy waterings to the orchard trees in Perivale Park. As a result most of these still have green leaf cover, and only 2-3 have fully dropped their leaves. I am hopefull they will all put out new leaves next spring.