How is the National Wildflower Centre celebrating its 25th anniversary?

The National Wildflower Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary next month by continuing its efforts to revive wildflower-rich meadows across the UK, despite facing challenges from changing weather patterns due to the climate emergency.

What impact is climate change having on the UK's wildflower habitats?

Climate change is making it increasingly difficult to restore the UK's lost meadows, with rising spring temperatures and unpredictable autumns causing issues with planting and threatening vulnerable species like primrose, cowslip, and yellow rattle.

Home / Environment / Changing Climate Hampers UK's Wildflower Restoration Efforts

Changing Climate Hampers UK's Wildflower Restoration Efforts

Q: How is the National Wildflower Centre involving the community in its restoration projects?

The National Wildflower Centre is working with individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations to establish wildflower-rich meadows across the UK, seeing the simple act of sowing seeds as a way to connect people with their local environment and ancestors.

21 Aug

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Summary

Rising spring temps, unpredictable autumns make meadow restoration harder
Certain species like primrose, cowslip vulnerable to climate change
Need more research to understand climate change's impact on wildflower habitats

Changing Climate Hampers UK's Wildflower Restoration Efforts

As the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) celebrates its 25th anniversary, it faces a growing challenge in its efforts to revive the UK's lost meadows. According to Juliet Rose, the head of development at the Eden Project where the NWC is based, rising temperatures in the spring and unpredictable autumns are making the task even more difficult.

The NWC has seen spring plantings fail or plants show signs of distress due to the hot springs experienced in 2025 and this year. Autumn has also become unreliable, with very wet periods making it hard to get seed in the ground. This has resulted in a "squeezed" growing window at both ends of the season.

Certain species like primrose, cowslip, and yellow rattle, which require cold periods to trigger germination, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The NWC has also heard from other growers about lower yields of perennial harvests this year due to the very hot spring.

Despite the sobering climate change warnings, the NWC remains optimistic. The center's key aim is to involve more people in restoration projects, with the simple act of sowing seeds seen as a way to connect with the community and one's ancestors. The NWC continues to work with individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations to establish wildflower-rich meadows across the UK.

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