Gardens are disappearing from the landscape, says National Trust
Written byTimes Magazine
According to a study by the National Trust, orchards are disappearing from the Isle of Wight landscape, having been missing since the 1900s. According to the organization, the loss of more than half of the gardens in England and Wales is affecting flora and fauna.
Gardens were destroyed to make way for homes and farms. The most significant decline can be observed in the southwest. Annie Riley of the National Trust said: "Many of the orchards that once stood on our outskirts in the 18th and 19th centuries have been lost as the city has evolved and often survives as map evidence or simply as street names.
The colorful displays of spring flowers have been a part of British folklore and culture for centuries, with fruit trees in orchards among the first to bloom. "It is important for the community to enjoy the beauty of this spring eruption, and it is important for nature," said Tom Domet, Head of the Environmental History Trust.
Traditional gardens can support wildlife such as flies, bees, bats, and birds. For example, the tangled trunks and branches of trees provide homes for patrolling bats, while flowers are a food source for pollinating insects.
Researchers have used artificial intelligence to analyze historical maps from the National Library of Scotland combined with Natural England and The People's Trust for Endangered Species datasets.
According to the National Trust:
Modern and traditional gardens in England and Wales have fallen 56%, with 43,017 hectares (106,297 hectares) left to grow today – slightly larger than the Isle of Wight.
Traditional gardens in England and Wales have decreased by 81% (78,874 hectares / 194,902 hectares).
Kent is now the county of England with the highest overall orchard coverage. With Suffolk and East Sussex, it is one of only three counties in the UK to have more gardens today than it did 100 years ago due to more modern garden plantings.
The National Trust has pledged to plant four million flowering trees to grow and build 20 million trees in England, Wales, also Northern Ireland by 2030.
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