<
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hundreds-of-flowering-species-bloomed-across-britain-and-ireland-last-winter-thats-not-a-good-thing-180987964/>
"While many people spend the first day of the year sleeping in after a night of
New Year’s Eve festivities, some citizen scientists in the United Kingdom use
that time to search for flowers.
Every year, the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) organizes the New
Year Plant Hunt to investigate which wild plants are flowering in the depths of
winter. Data collected by participants sheds light on how climate change is
impacting the region’s wild and naturalized plants, as well as potential
consequences for species that depend on the plants. This year’s hunt ran from
January 1 to 4.
In 2025, the initiative registered 310 blooming species of native plants—far
more than the ten varieties expected to flower during this period, according to
a statement released January 2 by the Met Office, the U.K.’s national
meteorological service. When adding non-native species to the count, that
year’s hunt saw 646 blooming plants.
Although flowers are often an enjoyable sight, in the winter they can bring a
stark warning.
Analysis of the New Year Plant Hunt data from 2016 to 2025 revealed a striking
link between booms in blooming plants and hotter temperatures. At a given
location, for every 1.8-degree-Fahrenheit rise in temperature, the hunt
registers 2.5 extra flowering plant species, on average. This strongly suggests
that climate variability and change are affecting the environment, per the
statement.
“This new analysis shows a very clear link between rising temperatures and
impacts on our plant species,” Kevin Walker, BSBI’s head of science, says in
the statement. “This is yet further evidence that climate change is affecting
our wildlife indiscriminately. This is a visible signal that everyone can see
in their own gardens and communities.”"
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
