Research in Context
Botanical Gardens
Monitoring and studying the effects on the plants in their Collections.
United Kingdom
Cambridge University Botanic Garden CUBG
In 2020 the Phenology Project was set up in the University's Botanic Garden. With the help of volunteers it monitors the effects of climate change on over 90 trees and woody plants across the site. Various differences have already been recorded such as:
- leaf loss earlier or later in the autumn, depending on the species
- production of an excess crop of fruit for some species
- thinning of canopy.
For the safe interpretation of the data, the project must continue for many years or even decades. Apart from guidance in caring for the needs of the plants at the CUBG Collection, other aims of the Phenology Project is to share the findings and observations, with:
- visitors and maintenance crews. In order to help them plan for the future.
- other phenology projects worldwide. Especially on the topic of how climate change is affecting native and non-native plants. (Garget 2025, CUBG 2025). ​
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Scenery at St John's College. Image source: Jean-Luc Benazet 2019 Bridge of Sighs, St John's College. Lake beside University building. [Online] Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/lake-beside-building-during-daytime---UPNZyCO94
France
Paris Arboretum
At the site of the Botanical Garden of the City, at the "Arboretum de Paris", in the heart of the forest of Vincennes, valuable data is collected with monitoring of its collection of 600 species and varieties of trees. Making use of this exceptional genetic pool is expected to raise public awareness of species diversity. It also supports the study "Laboratoire arbres et climat 2018-2024" which included monitoring the behavior of nine tree species in the urban areas. With the aim of identifying the characteristics of the most resilient species in a climate change context.
Another arboretum of the city to contribute to the diversification of tree species canopy is 'Arboretum de Versailles-Chèvreloup" which is an integral part of the Palace of Versailles. For more than a century the National Museum of Natural History, develops at the site a true living museum for the trees. (Ville de Paris 2021, Muller 2022).
Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France. Image source: Morishikiq 2020 Park. Trees and wooden chairs scattered around pavilion. [Online] Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/green-trees-and-brown-wooden-bench-_6Xf7Kir9ag
REFERENCES
UNIVERSITIES
University of Cambridge
Garget, J. (2025, September 4).
Can British gardens survive climate chaos? .
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/can-British-gardens-survive-climate-chaos
BOTANIC GARDENS AND ARBORETA
Arboretum de Versailles-Chèvreloup 2025
https://www.arboretumdeversailleschevreloup.fr/fr
Cambridge University Botanic Garden CUBG. (2025, April 2).
Phenology Project
https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/research-science/phenology-project/
Ville de Paris
Arboretum de Paris. (2024).
https://www.paris.fr/lieux/arboretum-de-paris-1796
CITIES AND METROPOLITAN AREAS
Ville de Paris. 2021.
Plan Arbre. Les actions de Paris pour l’arbre et la nature en ville. Fiches-actions 2021-2026.
https://cdn.paris.fr/paris/2021/12/13/daf6cce214190a66c7919b34989cf1ed.pdf
​
SCIENCE NEWS
Muller, Serge. 2022.
À Paris, quels arbres pour adapter la ville au changement climatique ? .
The Conversation. October 24, 2022.