# New Digital Tool Predicts Plant Survival in Changing UK Climate The Garden Climate Assessment Tool helps gardeners transition from water-intensive classics to resilient species. - **Source:** [Environment | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/environment) - **Published:** 2026-11-03 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/cefd3926-79ba-427d-b777-e421eecb9300 ## Predicting Future Garden Viability The Future National Gardens Group is developing the Garden Climate Assessment Tool to help UK gardeners adapt to shifting weather patterns. By inputting specific plant lists, users can evaluate how species will tolerate projected local climate conditions, including temperature fluctuations, dryness, and winter cold, moving beyond traditional 20th-century horticultural assumptions. ## Coalition of Horticultural Experts This initiative involves a major coalition including the Royal Horticultural Society, the National Trust, and English Heritage. By pooling expertise and data from 289 UK gardens, the group aims to provide a robust, free risk-assessment platform. Professional gardeners began trialing the software this Monday to refine its predictive accuracy. ## Expanding on Global Models The tool builds upon the Botanic Gardens Conservation International framework launched in Australia in 2022, which originally focused exclusively on trees. The UK coalition has significantly expanded this scope to cover a vast range of plants, currently incorporating data for up to 80,650 plant types to strengthen future climate predictions. ## Shifting Away from Classics Climate change is forcing a departure from water-thirsty English garden staples like hydrangeas, delphiniums, and lush lawns. Experts emphasize that gardeners must now anticipate climate impacts rather than reacting to them. The tool provides the necessary data to identify struggling plants, allowing for a gradual transition toward more sustainable, climate-resilient collections. ## Designers Facing New Realities Designers like Laura Carey are increasingly wary of planting species like silver birch in environments that lack consistent moisture. Recent hot summers have highlighted the vulnerability of traditional choices. The tool aims to support professionals in making long-term decisions by measuring plant performance against both increased temperatures and overall weather changeability. ## Addressing Regional Dryness In regions like the east of England, which is the driest part of the country, the tool serves as a critical resource for those needing to abandon high-water-demand aesthetics. It provides the evidence-based support required to help gardeners overcome the cultural attachment to traditional English garden styles that are no longer viable. ## Limitations and Future Needs While the tool offers significant predictive power, it currently lacks soil-type variables, a point raised by Kim Shrosbree of the Epsom Garden Society. Gardeners on chalk or clay soils face distinct challenges that are not yet captured, highlighting the need for future updates to include site-specific soil data for better accuracy. ## Moving Toward Tailored Advice The shift toward climate-resilient gardening marks a move away from generic advice toward highly localized, individual plant assessments. As the tool evolves, it will become essential for gardeners to consider their specific micro-climates and soil conditions, ensuring that future planting choices remain sustainable despite the ongoing challenges of the climate crisis. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/nov/03/garden-climate-assessment-tool-drought-gardening — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._