Chelsea Flower Show exhibit looks at impact of climate change on gardens

A Defra-sponsored exhibit at this year's Chelsea Flower Show looks at the impact of climate change on gardens and on how gardeners can take action to combat climate change. The exhibit - "Climate change: the global challenge" - has been put together by the Eden Project and the Institute of Horticulture.

On his visit to the Chelsea Flower Show yesterday (23 May) Horticulture Minister Lord Bach launched a leaflet describing the exhibit and the wider problem of climate change. He said, "Scientific evidence, put forward at the recent science conference at the Met Office, has shown that manmade climate change is accelerating and that it is vital that we use a wide range of technologies to bring down carbon dioxide emissions.

"Many gardeners have already seen changes in their gardens with some having to mow their lawns all the year round. Daffodils and snowdrops are blooming earlier due to the longer-growing season. The UK can expect to see milder, wetter winters with fewer frosts and drier summers with erratic temperature extremes.

"It is important that all of us - Government , industry and indeed gardeners - take action to reduce carbon dioxide levels to combat climate change."

Actions to combat and address the challenge of climate change:

- use sustainable products, such as timber and charcoal that have been harvested without harming the environment
- plant a tree - they help to remove carbon from the atmosphere
- choose plants that like a warm climate but can cope with both drought and waterlogging
- collect water and store it in butts
- water wisely and use irrigation methods that direct the water to the plant roots
- compost what you can and add organic matter top retain moisture while improving drainage
- choose pest and disease resistant plants