Climate change ushers in new life (BBC) {avocados, olives in Britain!}

[eppur_se_muova]

by Jane Mower
BBC News website, London

When Philip Williams spotted an avocado growing on a tree in west London he was ridiculed, first by a taxi driver and then by his wife.

***
This is reflected in the planting at Kew {Gardens} this year where Olive, Stone Pine and Cork Oak trees, all of which originate from the Mediterranean, have been selected.

Over the last 10 years olive trees have established themselves as a regular feature outside restaurants and cafes.

And Mr Kirkham believes it will not be long before they begin bearing fruit in this country.
***
According to the UK Phenology Network, for every 1C rise in temperature the timing of spring is roughly six days earlier.
***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5008818.stm

[kestrel91316]

1. They BETTER start growing olives and avocados in England

soon, because from what I hear, things are getting mighty inhospitable for all plant life except cactus down in the Iberian Peninsula...........

[XemaSab]

5. There are no native old world cacti

/pedant

[kestrel91316]

7. (oops!) I guess it's true you learn something new every day.

HEY, but what the heck DO they grow in their deserts???

[XemaSab]

9. Crassulaceae, Azoaceae, and Welwitschiaceae

:hi:

[Dead_Parrot]

10. Gesundheit. nt

[kestrel91316]

11. Smartypants!

[enid602]

2. Jetstream

I think it's pretty much accepted that global warming will change the Jetstream pattern, making the UK more like Quebec or Siberia. They'd better enjoy those avocados while they can.

[SoftUnderbelly]

3. here's the problem

although a lot of british people will say they want to help the environment and stop global warming, inside every man, woman and child in this country is a part of them that longs for spannish weather - even if it means losing parts of south east england into the bargain (a sacrifice we are prepared to pay)

editted to add - didnt mean to eply to the post above, meant to be for original topic, but it is true what you say. the gulfstream that flows from the caribbean/atlantic to north western europe would be cut off by melting ice bergs floating south from the arctic. apparently. the upshot of it all is that while the rest of the world warms up we still have the shitty weather!

[depakid]

4. It's the Thermohaline shutdown

That really gives cause for worry.

It's happened before....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutdown_of_thermohaline_circulation

[Odin2005]

6. Southern England is developing a Mediterranean climate.

200 years from now it will be the new Provence (as long as the North Atlantic current keeps working).

[Dead_Parrot]

8. Yeah...

100 years from now it'll be the new Provence. 200 years from now it'll be the new Taymyr.