English historic gardens face damage from heatwaves and drought

Severe heatwaves and unprecedented drought across the United Kingdom are causing significant damage to historic English gardens and landscapes. At Hampton Court Palace, head gardener Graham Dillamore reports that mature trees, including oaks, sycamores, and limes, are struggling to survive, with some trees having ‘given up’ entirely.

Similar environmental stress is being observed at Chiswick House and Kensington Palace. While gardeners are attempting to water smaller plants like camellias, the scale of the drought makes it impossible to irrigate mature tree stock. The parched conditions have also affected Windsor Castle, where aerial views show scorched, yellowing lawns surrounding the royal residence.

Conversely, the extreme heat has provided a unique archaeological benefit by acting as a ‘kind of X-ray effect’ on the ground. At Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth House, the dried-out grass has revealed the outlines of long-lost 17th and 18th-century garden designs, such as the Great Parterre, which were previously hidden beneath the surface.