National Trust Properties at Risk from Extreme Weather

Overview

• The National Trust, UK's largest conservation charity, highlights the risk to heritage sites from extreme weather.
• Storms and flooding have caused damage to estates in England and Wales, including mature trees being felled and damage to buildings and gardens.
• An increasing "homogenisation" of seasons is affecting insect species and their predators.

Key Events of 2024

Storm Damage

• Bodnant Garden, Conwy, Wales: Suffered significant storm damage due to Storm Darragh.
• Avebury Manor, Wiltshire: Flooded for the first time in 300 years due to a sequence of storms (Henk, Isha, Jocelyn).

Structural Challenges

• Many National Trust properties not designed to withstand extreme weather.
• Antique drainpipes and guttering may overflow in heavy rain, damaging interiors and exteriors.

Seasonal Impacts

Spring

• Later-blooming Bluebells: Cool, wet April delayed blooming in places like Walk Wood, Sheffield Park, and Garden, East Sussex.
• Wildlife Disruptions: Erratic weather affected species like the Adonis blue butterfly, with numbers significantly down in Dorset.

Summer

• Peatland Ecosystems: Benefited from wet weather, aiding rare dragonfly sightings at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire.
• Trees: Young saplings and older trees relieved from stress due to previous dry conditions.

Autumn

• Delayed Autumn: Warm weather delayed the season's onset, creating vibrant displays in areas like Wallington Estate, Northumberland.
• Fungi and Slugs: Mild, wet autumn favored fungi growth and moisture-loving species like the Leopard slug.

Specific Wildlife Highlights

• Grey Seal Colony: Established at Orford Ness, Suffolk, due to low disturbance and overcrowding at other colonies.

Climate Observations

• Weather Challenges: Unpredictable weather causing confusion for wildlife and affecting traditional seasonal patterns.
• Adaptations Required: Need for adaptations in conservation strategies to cope with changing climate.

Conclusion

• The National Trust's annual roundup emphasizes the critical impact of extreme weather on natural and historic sites.
• Continued monitoring and adaptation strategies are essential to protect these valuable heritage sites and their ecosystems.