How hotter and drier summers could change London’s parks

London may have to change what it plants and how it looks after its green spaces as hotter and drier summers put increasing pressure on water supplies.

Thames Water, which supplies most of the capital, said water levels had not yet recovered from this year’s record-breaking hot summer, with sustained rainfall needed before it could consider lifting hosepipe restrictions.

The conditions are prompting some of London’s green spaces, including Kew Gardens and the Royal Parks, to rethink how they plan for the future.

Some trees could see their lifespans shortened by prolonged heat, while more drought-resistant plants could become a common sight across the capital.

July was the driest month on record in southern England, with Kew Gardens recording no measurable rainfall.

At Kew, work is under way to rethink planting and watering, including choosing species that require less water and using captured water for irrigation.

Among these drought-resilient plants is agave montana, a succulent from the mountains of Mexico which needs little watering and belongs to the same plant family as the crop used to make tequila.