Project to bring back Britain's wildflowers is hindered by climate crisis

Rising temperatures in the spring and unpredictable autumns are making the huge task of restoring the UK's lost meadows even more challenging, the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) has warned.

- Steven Morris

The centre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary next month, champions projects aimed at reviving wildflower-rich meadows, 97% of which have been lost in the past 80 years.

But Juliet Rose, the head of development at the Eden Project, where the NWC is based, said changing weather patterns due to the climate emergency were making it harder to grow wildflowers.

She said: "We have seen sowings fail or plants showing increasing signs of distress when planted in spring - especially through those hot springs we had in the pandemic and this year. If you sow in spring the plants can fry.