The National Trust says the rare late Arts and Crafts garden that it cares for, created by Edith, Lady Londonderry, in the early 20th century, is “extraordinary”, but is threatened by climate change. Warmer summers, wetter winters and rising sea levels are already affecting the gardens, which are set on the shore of Strangford Lough, a sea lough in County Down. And modelling shows that Mount Stewart’s most famous area, its formal gardens, will be underwater within 100 years, the Trust said.
The property’s garden team is making detailed plans for the future, including maintaining the historic “sea plantation” – a shelter belt of woodland that protects the site – and introducing plants that are more resilient to windy, salty conditions. These will include native plants as well as fast-growing species from Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and the eastern seaboard of the US. And with the formal gardens expected to be slowly consumed by both saltwater and rainwater in the coming decades, there are plans to create a new garden in the “spirit” of the existing planting, further from the lough.
Head gardener Mike Buffin said: “Over time, we’ll create a new garden in the spirit of the existing formal gardens, further into the estate. “We’ll use trigger points, such as storm events, to guide our decisions, and propagate significant at-risk plants so they can be planted in a new, safer location. “This way, people can continue to enjoy the character and beaut.
