Following the UK’s hottest summer on record, experts at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have warned the extreme heat and drought will likely affect autumn colour. 

Housing 11,000 tree species from across the world, Kew transforms during each autumn from green to oranges, reds and yellows. 

However, this year, Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Kew, says “we may not see the usual blaze of colour all at once,” adding:

“False autumns are a warning sign. Trees are long-lived organisms but they are under pressure from a rapidly changing climate. At Kew we’re studying which trees can thrive in a warmer, drier UK to guide future conservation and urban planting.”

Whilst some trees may put on a more impressive display than usual, other trees have shed their leaves early due to the false autumn phenomenon. 

Events at Kew include Material World, a festival of art and design, which is on display until 2 November whilst Halloween at Kew begins on 17 October.