Jonathan Leake, Environment Editor They are known as the garden of England, but Kent and its southeastern neighbours could be too dry to support anything but cattle and sheep by 2100, Met Office scientists have warned. They suggest that the new gardens of England will instead be in the north and west of Britain with warmer temperatures turning even hilly moorland areas into fields with arable crops replacing sheep. The predictions are based on the world failing to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions over coming decades, a scenario that could lead to 4C-5C of global warming that would dry up soils. “This causes the previously arable-dominant south and east to be completely reversed to grassland livestock farming by the end of the century,” said a paper published… Want to read more? Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.
Kent and other counties in southeastern England could be too dry to support arable crops and fit only for livestock farming by 2100, according to the Met Office. Scientists from the weather service claim that warmer temperatures will see arable farming move to the north and west of the country, where crops could replace sheep even on hilly moorland areas. The predictions are based on a global failure to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, leading to potential temperature rises of 4C-5C. The only way to preserve arable farming in the southeast under such conditions would be through large-scale irrigation.