Press Releases

Reading wins Silver Award at the Chelsea Flower Show

Release Date : 19 May 2008

The University of Reading's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has won the Continous Learning Silver Award

Could UK gardens become vital reserves as plants in the wild face extinction due to climate change? The award winning stand showed how Reading's research is trying to answer important questions like these.

"We've looked at Olives and Cyclamen for example – two plants that grow naturally in the Mediterranean", says Alastair Culham, from the School of Biological Sciences, who leads the work.

"In the future, the Mediterranean is likely to become too hot and dry for Cyclamen, while the climate of central Europe and even the south east tip of England will become more suitable. However, the speed of climate change could be too fast for plants to move naturally to new areas and many Cyclamen species face extinction. Gardens could become a vital reserve for this plant in the future."

"For this year's Chelsea stand we've done some preliminary work on a number of other plants, including Olive and Lavender. With a 2 to 3 degree warming, Olives are likely to do well in the south of the UK and to continue to thrive in the Mediterranean where they currently grow in the wild."

"However, it's not as simple as the UK climate becoming more like the Mediterranean. The hotter, drier summers and less winter frosts predicted for the UK will suit many species that currently grow further south. However, we're also likely to see wetter winters in the UK and that won't suit plants like Lavender which don't like having water logged roots."

The University's stand at Chelsea sees researchers from the School of Biological Sciences collaborating with the University's Walker Institute for Climate System Research. The Walker Institute aims to bring together climate related research at the University to improve knowledge of climate change and its impacts.

The stand itself will feature a backdrop explaining the research as well as pots containing various well known plants like Olive and frost-sensitive Lavenders. For each plant, there will be a panel showing where climate is ideal for growth now and where the ideal areas will be in the future.

ENDS

Further information from Alex Brannen, Senior Press Officer, on 118 378 7388

Notes to editors:

Dr Alastair Culham is available for interview and comment – on Monday at Chelsea Flower Show. Call 0118 378 7388 to arrange.

The University of Reading's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is in the Continuous Learning area in the Great Pavilion.