URBANA

ongoing project about how urban trees in London are affected by extreme heat and droughts

The unprecedented hot and dry summer of 2022 has brought profound changes to London's urban trees, unlike anything observed before. Some species are shedding their leaves as early as August, due to the stress from heat and drought. This premature loss not only disrupts their natural cycles but also slows the process of photosynthesis. The consequences of this phenomenon are yet to be fully understood. Vivienne is documenting the ongoing discoveries within this project.

Most life depends on photosynthesis - the leaves harnessing sunlight energy and producing oxygen, with that process trees serve as a barometers of our ecosystem health and they are giving us insights into the state of our environment.

With the climate change challenges, the significance of trees and shade in urban environments becomes increasingly more important. The cooling effect is becoming more indispensable in mitigating the heat in cities.

Trees help to preserve biodiversity, enhance air quality, provide habitats for flora and fauna and sequester carbon dioxide which aids combating greenhouse gas emissions.

To correctly convey these issues Vivienne receives information and advice for this project directly from the Head of Tree Collections at Kew Gardens