Gardening in a changing climate
News
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Forecast for the winter
The Met Office has announced its forecast for winter 2008/09.
Environment minister visits Chelsea
Phil Woolas, Minister for the Environment, visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to see for himself some of the environmental issues being challenged at the show.
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Extreme temperatures on the rise
Daily temperature extremes have risen by up to 4 °C over the last 50 years, say climate experts from the Met Office Hadley Centre.
Find out more about the extreme rises
CO2 to blame?
Climate change may not be the reason for the gradually-increasing delay in the onset of autumn leaf coloration and leaf fall, as was previously thought: it may actually be caused by rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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Oxfordshire's gardening climate
Oxfordshire ClimateXchange's events focussing on gardening, food security and climate change, have stimulated wide-ranging discussions. Info and experiences shared included seed-saving/swopping, which tools to use on the allotment after flooding and preparing for the impacts of extreme weather through sharing experiences and planning together. There will be a questionnaire online, together with information if you are planning an open garden event this year.
Find out more about gardening at Oxfordshire ClimateXchange
2008: Another top-10 year?
This year is set to be cooler globally than recent years, say Met Office and University of East Anglia climate scientists, but is still forecast to be one of the top-10 warmest years.
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Decade breaks records
This decade looks to be the hottest on record and 2007 to be the seventh warmest since 1850.
Find out more about decade temperatures
UKCIP08 - first report launched
The first report of the five that will be published under the UKCIP08 umbrella, The climate of the UK and recent trends, was launched by Defra's Secretary of State, Hilary Benn MP, in mid-December. This report describes observed climate in the UK, setting the scene for the other elements of UKCIP08 that will look at possible climate change for the UK over this century. To request a copy of the report, or to download an electronic version, go to the UKCIP website
The Defra website
New report from Local Government Association (LGA)
The LGA's Climate Change Commission has published a report that evaluates local government's achievements in addressing climate change and proposes further action. The Commission concluded that significant progress needs to be made in the local government response to climate change over the next two years, and the reporet suggests that few councils have begun to address adaptation to climate change.
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IPCC report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has launched its Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report, providing an integrated view of climate change, based on the three IPCC reports launched earlier in the year.
Download the full report, a summary for policy makers and other supporting material
RHS supports planting the right trees in London
The Right Trees for London's Changing Climate project is a partnership between the Mayor's office, the Forestry Commission, Natural England, The Tree Council and the Royal Horticultural Society.
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