Early flowers bring climate change warning

Although trees and plants are now blooming earlier and providing a colourful sight, they are also bringing a climate warning.

That’s the view of Midlands green expert Ron Fox who was commenting on reports that plants now flower almost a month sooner than in previous centuries due to warmer winters and milder springs.

“While early blooms seem nice, there is the danger of a double-edged sword,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

“Firstly, plants that blossom too early are at high risk of being killed by late season frosts.

“Secondly, the most dangerous consequence is an ecological mismatch. Plants, insects and birds must be in sync. If flowers bloom before pollinators like bees emerge, the plants cannot be pollinated and the insects have no food.

“This can then set off a chain reaction that causes long-term damage to the ecosystem.”

Ron said this year’s warm spring after a mild, wet winter and increased temperatures were the perfect conditions for plants to start growing earlier.

A University of Cambridge study found that more than 400 species in the UK are blooming earlier.

They discovered that the average first flowering date from 1987 to 2019 is a full month earlier than the average first flowering date from 1753 to 1986. The same period coincides with accelerating global warming caused by human activities.

The University of Cambridge research was supported in part by the European Research Council, the Fritz and Elisabeth Schweingruber Foundation, and the Woodland Trust.

This year wet earth, plenty of sunshine and a lack of frosts have combined to give some plants a noticeable head start, with gardens in southern England.

Further north, however, spring has been a little slower to get off the mark as cooler and wetter weather has held on for longer.

However, some trees, plants and wildlife are adapting to the changing climate. Wild British bees are coming out of hibernation around six days earlier for every 1°C of warming.

But not all species move at the same pace. European honeybees respond differently than bumblebees while migratory insects and birds can’t always adjust their patterns quickly enough.

As the climate warms, sensitive ‘specialist’ species, like the high brown fritillary – a rare UK butterfly whose caterpillars feed only on violets – may struggle the most.

This article raises some interesting questions, said Ron. Do you agree with some of our readers that these early flower displays are also bringing a climate warning? What do you think should be done about this problem? Will you be changing your lifestyle to help reduce climate problems? Send your views to Ron Fox at [email protected]