Mottisfont roses bloom 'weeks early' as climate change upends flowering patterns
Roses are blooming earlier than ever this year at some of the National Trust’s southern gardens, as climate change drives flowering forward, the charity said.
The National Trust’s Mottisfont rose garden, originally donated in 1972, now shows a shift in its blooming schedule—expected to peak between mid-May rather than June, driven by a mild, wet winter and unusually warm spells in spring. This disruption marks a broader trend where rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns are altering floral cycles across England.
Despite the change, the National Trust continues to adapt its practices. Head gardener Rob Ballard emphasized that a wet, warm winter, combined with April’s increasing warmth, set the stage for earlier blooms. He noted that managing the garden involves techniques like mulching, pruning, and selecting resilient varieties to counteract evolving conditions.
At Chartwell, gardens and outdoor manager Christopher Lane highlighted how early blooming reflects the impact of climate variability. Sam Brown, senior gardener at Buckland Abbey, stated that shorter dormancy periods and increased summer droughts were forcing gardens to adopt new strategies, such as improving soil health and underplanting, to support plant resilience.
Rebecca Bevan, a horticultural specialist, stressed that while the earlier blooming may seem beneficial, the true challenge lies in water availability. She pointed out that drought stress poses the greatest threat to roses, prompting the trust to focus on building healthier soils and investing in water conservation technologies.
For visitors to National Trust properties in the south of England, the altered blooming schedules mean planning trips closer to the peak display this year. As journalists join News At Ten to revisit on-the-day reports, audiences gain insight into how climate-driven changes are reshaping both public spaces and the way people interact with nature.
