At a recent gathering of leading horticultural experts in Somerset, head gardeners from across the United Kingdom called for a significant transformation in the design and maintenance of historic English gardens. The annual Head Gardener’s conference brought together around 90 specialists managing extensive landscapes, including those at prominent sites such as the National Trust properties, the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire, and London’s Royal Parks.
The participants agreed that traditional herbaceous borders—densely planted perennial flower beds that have been a hallmark of British country house gardens since the Victorian era—are becoming increasingly unsustainable. A combination of more frequent heatwaves, droughts, water restrictions, and erratic seasonal weather has made maintaining these moisture-dependent displays all but impossible across much of the country.
In a survey conducted at the event, attendees unanimously favored replacing the classic planting schemes with more resilient options. They advocated for the adoption of deep-rooting, drought-resistant woody shrubs in a landscaping approach they termed “shrubscaping.” This, they said, represents the future direction for sustainable British gardens in the face of changing climatic conditions.
John Grimshaw, editor-in-chief of Trees and Shrubs Online, emphasized the need to rethink traditional aesthetic values that have long defined garden design. He noted that previous trends centered on grasses and perennials with relatively short lifespans, whereas shrubs offer longevity and hardiness, with some species lasting up to 30 years. Grimshaw suggested that gardeners should embrace a more ambitious use of shrubs beyond their traditional role as background plants.
Jack Aldridge, horticultural curator for the Royal Parks, highlighted the real-world impacts of climate stress on plant species across southern England. He pointed out that commonly planted shrubs such as hydrangeas, once considered reliable, are now dying off, while species like Cornus kousa are experiencing severe leaf scorch under sustained temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. Aldridge stressed that despite efforts such as watering, these conditions are making it unrealistic to continue cultivating traditional garden plants as before.
The consensus among experts signals a pivotal shift in British horticulture, aligning garden management practices with the challenges posed by a warming climate and changing environmental conditions. This move towards “shrubscaping” represents an attempt to future-proof the nation’s cherished gardens while maintaining their visual and cultural significance.