This year we have all seen and read the numerous weather-related records that have been set. Sadly, the impact is clear for all to see in our Gardens of Remembrance.

Our plants are considered to be ‘Living Memorials’ in memory of loved ones and yet in consecutive years many visitors will have experienced the upset of seeing an unhealthy plant during either a regular visit, or on a special occasion.

Despite the efforts of my team and the grounds team numerous trees, roses and shrubs have perished this year. Even established plants have suffered badly.

We have already begun a project to remove unsightly perished roses from the memorial beds.

Periods of heat and drought appear to be getting longer and more frequent. As a result, the list of replacement plants is getting longer and longer every year. This is neither cost effective nor provides a solution to the problem.

To react to the challenge posed by the weather we are researching drought resistant plants as an alternative to our current plants.

In due course you may be contacted and presented with options as we seek to provide everyone with a better long-term solution than continually replacing plants that are clearly not thriving in weather conditions that are becoming the norm.