GB · International contemporary art platformHistoric parks and gardens across the United Kingdom are being forced to adapt to hotter, drier summers, wetter winters and more severe storms, according to research published on 11 August 2026 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Historic England.
The study drew on interviews and an online survey involving more than 100 owners and managers of historic landscapes. Participants reported mature tree losses, erosion, flooding, overwhelmed drainage systems and growing pressure on staff time and water supplies. Some sites have also faced temporary closures after storms.
Managers are responding by introducing more resilient planting, collecting rainwater, restoring historic storage tanks, improving paths and drainage, and expanding staff training. The research also found strong demand for clearer guidance, peer networks and sustained funding.
The findings matter to the cultural sector because designed landscapes, museum grounds and historic estates are part of the UK’s heritage infrastructure. Their conservation now requires climate adaptation to be treated as a core operational task rather than an occasional emergency response.
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