{"id":47974,"date":"2026-09-11T16:48:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47974"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:48:55","slug":"heritage-fund-he-understanding-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-historic-parks-gardens-and-cemeteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47974","title":{"rendered":"Heritage Fund & HE: Understanding the impact of climate change on historic parks, gardens and cemeteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Heritage Fund worked with Historic England (HE) to better understand how the climate crisis is affecting the UK\u2019s natural heritage sites and the people that manage them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Heritage Fund writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 The first research of its kind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked owners and managers of historic parks, gardens and cemeteries how these places are being managed and maintained in response to climate challenges. It\u2019s the first research to show how these 2,700+ registered natural heritage sites are coping. Bramhill Design and Sarah Rutherford Historic Environment Ltd led the work, which included a literature review, interviews with 23 site managers, owners, curators and head gardeners, and an online survey which generated responses from 79 sites. Their analysis examines current practice in responding to the damage and threats caused by the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we\u2019ve learned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research found that while there are individual examples of good practice, work is needed to ensure management decisions are taken quickly and consistently to protect the most significant and vulnerable heritage. The most critical need of heritage managers is climate adaptation guidance specifically designed for historic parks, gardens and cemeteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other key findings included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Climate conditions are more severe and less predictable, affecting parts of the UK in different ways. For example, dry periods are longer and harsher in the south east of England, while rainfall tends to be more intense and unpredictable in northern areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Pests and diseases are thriving in the milder and wetter conditions, sometimes resulting in the loss of entire plant groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Management responses are inconsistent, depending on resources available to owners and managers. Barriers to consistent practice include:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. lack of funding, especially for capital works such as drainage, flood management and planting replacement<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. lack of staff capacity as the volume of reactive work increases leaving little room for strategic thinking and forward planning<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. fragmented and generic guidance and a lack of joined-up management planning advice and training<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The research also identified opportunities to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n