Jack Aldridge steps into the role of horticultural curator next month – the first-ever to do so with The Royal Parks charity.
Focussing on delivering exceptional horticulture for park’s millions of visitors every year, Aldridge will work across all 5,000 acres of historic parkland.
The Royal Parks charity currently manages London’s eight Royal Parks, including Hyde Park and St James’s Park, both of which hold iconic memories in British history. From hosting the Lionesses winning homecoming parade after the Women’s European Championship in 2025 to holding the first park run or Suffragettes meetings, the Royal Parks act as important green spaces in London.
Aldridge holds a wealth of horticultural experience, including working at RHS Garden Wisley and managing the four-acre woodland Oakwood. He says:
“I am looking forward to working with the team to support the shared aim of delivering wow-factor horticulture and developing a world-class plant collection throughout the Royal Parks.”
As he approaches the role in the coming weeks, he looks to diversify the planting “in response to the changing climate offers us an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries and experiment with what we plant within a variety of interesting microclimates, bringing joy to visitors and putting The Royal Parks firmly on the global horticultural map.”
Matthew Pottage, head of horticulture and landscape strategy at The Royal Parks also comments:
“We have no doubt that Jack’s [Aldrdige] extensive plant knowledge will help us create extraordinary displays that are not only beautiful, but also resilient, as we adapt to meet the challenges of a changing climate.”
This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year shortlist has been revealed, highlighting drought resistance, improved hardiness and increased floral vibrancy.
Designed to celebrate and honour the endeavours of growers and nurseries to bring new cultivars of high quality to all types of gardens across the UK, the Plant of the Year shortlist demonstrates “the highest innovation,” explains the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Winners will be selected on Monday 18 May at 2pm at the RHS Experience stand in The Great Pavilion.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year shortlist:
HostaRED NINJA (‘Nk2021’)
Exhibitor: Sienna Hosta (Oliver Walker)
Site Location: GPC024
Breeder: Ninja Kramer
Plant Supplier: Fairweather’s Nursery
Pennisetum advenaTINY TAILS (‘Tus022’)
Exhibitor: Ashcroft’s Perennials and Ornamental Grasses (Chris Ashcroft)
Site Location: GPF081
Breeder: Tuszynscy Gospodarstwo Ogrodnicze and Grzegorz Tuszynski
Plant Supplier: Ashcroft’s
ClematisQUEEN’S NURSE (‘Evigsy159’)
Exhibitor: Raymond Evison Clematis (Andy Jeanes)
Location: GPB016
Breeder: Raymond J Evison Ltd
Plant Supplier: Raymond J Evison Ltd
Prunus‘Sumaura Fugenzo’
Exhibitor: Blue Diamond Garden Centres (Jill Kerr)
Location: GPC033
Breeder: Unknown
Plant Supplier: Frank P Matthews Trees
PittosporumGREEN MOUND(‘Jule1’)
Exhibitor: Sparsholt College (Lucy lewis)
Location: GPD051
Breeder: Frederic Julien
Plant Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd
Anisodontea capensisCARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE (‘Ib201-7’) (Carnival Lights Series)
Exhibitor: Sparsholt College (Lucy Lewis)
Location: GPD051
Breeder: Plant Growers Australia Ltd.
Plant Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd
HydrangeaVELVET NIGHT RED LACE
Exhibitor: Blue Diamond Garden Centres (Jill Kerr)
In the landscaping industry today, one question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: are the tree species we’re planting today suited to the climates they’ll experience in the decades to come? For nurseries, landscape architects, contractors and local authorities alike, this is no longer a theoretical discussion, but a practical consideration in how we plan, grow and specify trees for future landscapes. At Hillier Trees, we’ve held conversations with customers covering this shift over the past few years.
Last year in particular, a questionnaire was sent out to clients across the landscaping and public realm sectors that painted a clear picture: Not only is there growing interest in climate-resilient tree species, but there is also a strong desire for decisions to be grounded in evidence rather than speculation. Designers and contractors today are increasingly asking nurseries to focus on the bigger picture and understand how species will perform not just in today’s conditions, but also in the next 30, 50 or even 100 years. The truth we found is that the climate itself is already sending clear signals.
What the climate is telling us
In January alone, our field tree production operations at Andlers Ash recorded approximately 239mm of rainfall within a single month. Across the nursery’s 500 acres of field-grown trees, this equated to around 107 million gallons of water falling across the site in just four weeks.
Significant shifts in the climate such as this illustrate how weather patterns are becoming more extreme and less predictable. While heavy rainfall is one side of the equation, many parts of the UK are also experiencing longer periods of drought and heat stress during the summer months. For growers and landscape professionals, these changing conditions reinforce the importance of understanding how different species will perform over time.
Taking a science-led approach
To better understand how future climate conditions may affect tree suitability within the UK, we commissioned a study with Urban Plant Lab that examined seventeen commonly planted landscape tree species across 23 UK cities, analysing their current climatic suitability alongside projected future conditions using plant trait data, global species distribution records and climate modelling.
The results from the findings suggest that the outlook for many of the species currently used in UK landscapes remains positive. In fact, most of the species assessed demonstrated moderate or high suitability for both current and future climate conditions.
However, the research conducted also emphasized that climate change won’t have a universal effect on the UK. Instead, every region within the country will suffer in various ways, with northern and western areas expecting to remain broadly suitable for many existing species, while parts of the south-east may experience greater pressure as temperatures rise and summer rainfall becomes less reliable.
Additionally, the study also suggests that species such as Betula pendula, Prunus avium and Tilia cordata may become increasingly vulnerable in Southeast England towards the end of the century, highlighting the importance of considering regional differences when planning future planting.
Trialling the next generation of trees
Alongside the work we’ve put into our operations following this study by Urban Plant Lab, we’ve also been carrying out our own production trials over the past three years, evaluating species that aren’t currently a part of our commercial growing programme but may have potential for future production. As with any trial programme, some species have performed well while others have presented challenges in terms of growth rate, form or propagation.
But identifying species that may be suited to future climates is only part of the equation, as those trees must also be commercially viable to grow in UK nurseries, capable of being produced at scale and delivered to the market at the sizes required for landscape projects. Simply importing unfamiliar species from Southern Europe is unlikely to provide a reliable long-term solution if those trees cannot be successfully grown and supplied within the UK nursery system.
Research through collaboration
In the end, developing a climate-resilient tree supply will require collaboration across the entire sector. Fortunately, many world-leading research institutions within the UK are doing just that, studying plant science, urban forestry and climate change in detail. By bringing together researchers, commercial growers, landscape professionals and local authorities, the industry can develop practical solutions that can be delivered at scale.
Continued government support will also play an important role in enabling the research and trials needed to expand the range of viable tree species available to the market.
Working with clients and communities
At Hillier, we’re currently working with several clients on projects where the boundaries of traditional tree selection are being explored, enabling us to trial promising species within real landscapes while gathering valuable feedback on how they perform in different environments. As part of these efforts, we also recently partnered with Tree Musketeers, who are planting trial species across residential estates and public green spaces.
Projects such as these help researchers understand how newer species perform in urban environments while also engaging local communities in the long-term stewardship of their urban trees.
Looking ahead
The question of whether the trees we are planting today are fit for tomorrow’s climate doesn’t have a simple answer. While evidence suggests many of the species currently used in UK landscapes will remain viable for decades to come, climate change is also likely to reshape growing conditions in specific parts of the country, meaning diversification and forward planning will become increasingly important. For the landscaping industry, the key will be maintaining a balanced, science-led approach and continuing to plant proven species; all while gradually introducing new ones that may build resilience for the future.
Most importantly, these conversations need to start early. Engaging with nurseries during the planning stages of major landscape projects allows time to consider species selection, availability and potential contract growing opportunities. Because when it comes to trees, the decisions we make today will shape our landscapes for generations.
In a recent study published by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), environmental horticulture businesses are at risk of facing water restrictions.
Such water restrictions could threaten climate adaptation, biodiversity and greener communities, explains the HTA.
According to the research, the sector uses just 0.15% of the UK’s total water consumption. However, the findings HTA’s 2025 Water Consumption and Resilience Survey highlight what the Association describes as a “low-consumption, high-risk” paradox for a sector that contributes £38 billion to the UK economy.
Despite the small national footprint, explains the HTA, 88% of surveyed businesses said that restrictions on mains or abstracted water would have a serious negative impact.
Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA says “our members face disproportionate risk when restrictions are in place.” She adds:
“This is a sector that underpins climate adaptation, supports biodiversity, boosts health, enhances public spaces and has the potential to contribute over £50 billion to the economy by 2023 with the right levers in place.”
New research shows the progress already being made, with professional growers now sourcing 32% of their water from rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, demonstrating a significant industry commitment to sustainable water use.
As discussed in a Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, the UK could be in a serious state of drought. HTA is joining WaterWise and the Consumer Council for Water, in partnership with the Environment Agency, to encourage businesses and consumers to strengthen resilience during the current wet season. A joint blog, ‘2026: A year we prepare, not react,’ urges proactive steps such as installing and filling water butts, identifying hidden leaks through initiatives like the ‘Leaky Loo Challenge’, and seeking advice from garden centres on the right plant, right place and drought-resilient planting.
Amid this research, other sectors, including the use of AI, use water. Recent global environmental research that finds AI’ its ‘s water usage overtakes that of the entirety of the global bottled-water demand. Read about the AI argument here.
Additionally, the HTA has recently welcomes a call for information which asks businesses to prepare for the proposed UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, which continuing to stress the importance of clear and timely guidance for the industry.
Myllium is newly founded international network of experts leading the way in nature, climate, sustainable and societal progress.
Environmental consultancy, Tyler Grange, has become a founder member of the new collective due to its aligning values. “By coming together, we’re more strategically placed to influence people and the planet and to achieve our ambitious five-year strategy, explains managing director Jon Berry.
The formation of Myllium, meaning fertile ground and the root-like mycelium structure, provides a platform for experts in ecology, arboriculture, landscape planning, green infrastructure design and sustainability.
Katarina Walter, chief executive of Myllium explains the international collective:
“In forming Myllium, we’ve created a handpicked collective of the most expert firms and leaders in field – creating a powerful platform from which we can scale, share expertise, and provide the best science-based innovative solutions to increasingly complex challenges. By pooling our knowledge across disciplines and geographies, we’re perfectly positioned to support even the largest international clients, operating in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.”
Tyler Grange’s leadership team and brand will remain the same, while all current owners of the business have reinvested and become shareholders in Myllium.
Newly developed by Greenwood Plants, its new Climadapt range offers plants bred to meet the challenges of urban design in a changing climate.
The range offers plants which have been bred and selected for the enhanced ecosystem services they provide, including soil health, water resilience, biodiversity, urban cooling and phytoremeditation,
Greenwood has announced it has partnered with plant breeder Pinnacle Plants International to bring the Climadapt range to the amenity market with distribution rights in the UK and European markets.
Launching with nine products in its range, Climadapt includes Agave URBAFLORA® ‘Hale and Hardy’, Rubus URBAFLORA® ‘Happy Wanderer’, Cotoneaster URBAFLORA® ‘Urban Carpet’, Cotoneaster URBAFLORA® ‘Urban Runner’, Dispropsis URBAFLORA® ‘Shade Runner’, Hedera algeriensis ‘BELLECOUR®’, Hydrangea anomala URBAFLORA® ‘Terra Firma’, Lonicera URBAFLORA® ‘Precipice’ and Quercus URBAFLORA® ‘Grace’.
Glenn Devenish, Greenwood’s chief executive officer comments on the new range:
“The Climadapt range has been selected and bred to thrive in future climatic conditions whilst offering practical environmental services, adding value to the work our clients do. We are pleased to partner with leading plant breeder Pinnacle Plants to bring these fantastic plants to the amenity market.”
Climadapt has been unvieled at IPM ESSEN in Germany this week, and will be available for delivery from June 2026.
The Landscape Institute (LI) has published a set of landscape and carbon resources to minimise the use of carbon.
Rob Hughes, chief executive of the LI says “collaboration across the built and natural environment is vital in tackling climate change and these tools represent another important step in enabling our sector to drive impact.”
Created with LI members and its staff, the resources “reflect the strength of our professional community,” he adds.
According to the Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, the UK built environment is responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions.
The new tools and resources, available here, feature a database and summary report, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Product Category Rules (PCRs) overviews and factsheets and a EPD database.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew introduces a new online hub, Grow Your Teaching, for teachers to use in an effort to close a gap found in the curriculum.
In response to the review of the 2025 curriculum from the Department for Education, which found the current national curriculum offers minimal climate education to pupils in schools, Kew brings its research directly to teachers.
A new film has also been created to showcase Grow Your Teaching which explores how plants and fungi make sense of climate change.
Julia Willison, director of learning ad participation at Kew says the new hub “represents an exciting step forward in how we support educators.”
Part of Endeavour, Kew’s free interactive library of teaching resources, Grow Your Teaching is derived from Kew’s 2025 Grow Your Future, a digital hub to promote green careers. To date, the platform has had over 7000 views and over 1500 users.
The government-led Nature Returns programme has formed an understanding about how to tackle climate change through nature-based solutions.
Using new methods to measure carbon in hedgerows using 3D laser scanning, the report reveals that hedgerows can store as much carbon as some woodlands.
The programme is led by Nature England in partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Projects also funded through the programme also revealed how fungi can be used as an indicator species for how much carbon is stored in soil and how species rich grassland can take up significant amounts of carbon whilst supporting important wildlife.
Over the previous four years, six local partnership projects across England have planted over 95,000 trees and shrubs, restored 16km of hedgerows and improved 2.5km of watercourses.
Dr Pete Brotherton, director of science and climate change at Natural England says “well-designed nature-based solutions championed through this programme show how we can help tackle the climate crisis”.
The programme will continue monitoring sites for 10 years to track long-term changes in carbon storage and biodiversity to inform climate change decisions.
Analysis of these findings will be used to inform the development of England’s Land Use Framework and support the scaling up of nature-based solutions across the country.
Nature Returns has also seen communities getting involved to restore nature, with over 7,000 people joined in community activities with more than 400 volunteer days recorded.
Conservation groups and organisations join forces at the National Trust’s Wallington park, Northumberland, on Sunday 15 June in celebration of the Great Big Green Walk.
Wallington Park is holding the event day between 10am – 3pm to celebrate positive action towards climate change and nature recovery across the north east of England.
Great Big Green Week 2025 intends to highlight changes, small or big, people can make in everyday life impacting climate and nature positively from 7 – 15 June.
Horticultural trade exhibition, GreenItaly, launches its 2025 event on Tuesday 20 May looking at the future of the international horticultural industry through climate-drive challenges.
Titled The Change Landscape of Horticulture, the panel is moderated by AIPH secretary general Tim Briercliffe.
Panelists included Cristina Morbi from Maetherea, Antonella Melone from Italian Association of Landscape Architecture (AIAPP) and Gardenia’s Emanuela Rosa-Clot.
They are also joined by Andrea Minghi from Giorgio Tesi Group, and YouGarden’s Henry Williams.
Briercliffe says the sector needs to “adapt quickly and together,” adding:
“The plants and practices we use today may not suit the landscapes of tomorrow.”
The panel also discusses climate-resilient plants, the role of non-native species in supporting biodiversity and the importance of plant supply chains in shifting market expectations.
GreenItaly 2025 will take place in Parma 15 – 17 October, showcasing Italy’s plant production, urban greening and growing technologies.
Garden of the Future is a show garden at RHS Chelsea next week that highlights climate-resilient crops developed by CGIAR.
Made to stabilise livelihoods and secure healthy diets in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, this garden also highlights the potential need for these as temperatures warm in the UK.
Designed by Butler & Parker, the garden welcomes supporter Gates Foundation to RHS Chelsea for the first time.
Growing crops such as sweet potatoes, chickpeas and pigeon peas, the garden also features new toilet technology. The Cranfield circular toilet is a self-contained system that converts household wastewater into clean water for irrigation and pathogen-free biochar for garden use.
The design duo behind the garden, Matt Butler and Josh Parker, say “our goal is to take people on a journey of exploration and discovery, showcasing climate-resilient crops, ornamentals and veg, edible plants with multiple uses and properties, and tools that demonstrate how growers, scientists, and communities are working together to grow a healthier future for everyone.”
Celebrity chef Levi Roots will be making an appearance during the event’s press day opening the garden with a cooking demonstration using the edible crops and no-dig vegetable patch.
