Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew has revealed the effects the projected future climate will have on the Garden’s 11,000 trees, 50% of which will be at risk.

Kew Gardens, founded in 1840, consists of gardens, botanical glasshouses and Grade I and II listed buildings set over 330 acres in south-west London.

RBG Kew says it houses the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”.

Spurred on by the loss of 400 trees during the drought of 2022, and the realisation that climate change is only going to bring about more such heatwaves and droughts, scientists at Kew decided to map and chronicle the climate risk to its vast collection of trees and woody shrubs over the coming decades.

As much of Kew's planting took place more than 100 years ago, the species it houses are particularly under threat as their long lifespan means their ability to withstand rapidly changing climate conditions is limited.

For its report, Planting for the future: Kew’s landscape succession...