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The Times Nature notes
| Posted by: | Wetherby Gardens Garden Committee |
| Category: | General |
Summary: | Jonathan Tulloch’s Nature Note on the magnificent London Plane, reminding us how lucky we are to have such wonderful and beneficial trees in the Garden. |
The Times - Nature Notes - June 2026
Melissa Harrison and Jonathan Tulloch
17th June 2026
London had its umbrellas up, but not for rain protection — on the hottest day of the year people were using their brollies to escape the searing sun. On such scorching afternoons the capital’s many plane trees are essential. To step under these gentle giants is to experience immediate relief: the feels-like temperature drops by up to 15 degrees. London planes, a hybrid between sycamores and oriental planes, work as natural air conditioners by being “cool pumps”. The hotter it gets the more water the trees suck up from the subsoil; this moisture is then evaporated through their leaves, considerably cooling the air. As heatwaves increase, we need to be planting as many of these arboreal benefactors as possible.
Jonathan Tulloch
Source: The Times, Nature Notes, June 2026. Scroll to entry for 17th June.
The Times Nature notes
Jonathan Tulloch’s Nature Note on the magnificent London Plane, reminding us how lucky we are to have such wonderful and beneficial trees in the Garden.
Tree management
The garden’s trees are managed under a plan which was approved by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Tree department in 2008.
Ball games and ball throwers
A reminder that ball games and and ball throwers are prohibited.
Updated Privacy Policy
Please be advised that our data privacy policy has been updated and can be found on the Privacy Policy page.
Damage to trees and furniture
Please would all residents who use the gardens for fitness and exercise not tie bands around trees or fences and please do not use garden furniture for step ups. Both these activities cause damage.