At Hampton Court Palace near London, head gardener Graham Dillamore said the gardens are struggling after a summer of record heatwaves and drought. The formal gardens, laid out in the 17th century, feature mature trees that take decades to establish. Some trees are drooping, and leaves are turning brown in August as a stress reaction to excessive heat.

Dillamore, who has tended the gardens for more than 20 years, warned that another similar summer would make preservation difficult. The gardens at Hampton Court, along with those at Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House, were created by renowned designers such as Lancelot "Capability" Brown and William Kent. These historic landscapes are among England's top visitor attractions, but their traditional planting styles and ancient trees are increasingly vulnerable to climate change.