Wisley plants flower early after mild weather

Plants have started flowering early at a historic garden in Surrey and the display is going to be "spectacular", according to one of its horticulturalists.

Jack Aldridge, of RHS Garden Wisley, said some of its plants had flowered up to three weeks earlier than expected.

The early blooms follow England's warmest February on record which scientists say is part of a broader trend due to climate change.

Mr Aldridge said: "The mild weather we had earlier in February has really brought these plants on."

He said it had been a "fantastic year for so many spring-flowering trees and shrubs, particularly in some of our woodland garden areas".

He said the "right amount of rain and sun" last summer and the cold in December meant the display on Camellias, magnolias and soon-to-be flowering cherries was going to be "spectacular".

However, an early show of colour can have a knock-on effect for ecosystems as plants get out of sync with species that rely on them, such as birds and insects.

Climate scientists say our winters will keep getting warmer and milder on average as the world continues to warm.

Early blooms are also vulnerable to late-season frosty spells.

Mr Aldridge said there was a risk frost could damage some flowers but it was "all part of the thrill and excitement of growing them”.

He added: “Rain early on in the year will help see us through later into summer and perhaps delay the period that we need to get the hoses out."

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