Isle of Wight opens climate change garden

Garden and greenhouse growers concerned about global warming may be interested to hear of a new attraction on the Isle of Wight.

Volunteers at the Ventnor Botanic Garden have reportedly been experimenting with plants more accustomed to warmer conditions.

It is part of a move to test whether the changing climate will mean the varieties being grown in UK gardens and greenhouses will change.

The concept is a joint initiative by Groundwork UK, the Big Lotterys Changing Spaces programme and the islands horticultural site.

It was officially opened by Prince Charles and is known as the Westgate Garden.

"Ive been here nearly 24 years and a lot of the things were planting in the garden now wouldnt have survived the first winter when I joined," curator Simon Goodenough told the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

He added that more exotic varieties are now growing successfully with little extra care.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently revealed its Wisley site has a new collection of gooseberries and redcurrants – one of 18 announced by Plant Heritage.