How we're adapting to climate change

Chirk Castle, Wrexham

Protecting trees from heavy wind

Built during the 13th century, Chirk Castle in Wrexham, North Wales, was one of several medieval fortresses along the border between England and Wales. Once a dominating symbol of power, today this 480-acre estate, known for its ancient trees, is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. 

The trees lining the walkways and drives are at risk of being uprooted and blown over by high winds and storms. Other extreme weather, such as a dry spring followed by heavy rain in summer, can cause the trees to go into shock and drop otherwise healthy branches. These trees aren't just a distinctive part of the estate's character, they also provide habitats for wildlife and shelter for visitors. At the meeting point of two rivers, this Site Of Special Scientific Interest is also home to rare invertebrates, bats, fungi and wild flowers.    

Chirk Castle has to close its doors to visitors for safety reasons if winds reach 45mph in winter and 40mph in summer. In November 2021, Storm Arwen uprooted a veteran beech tree that blocked access to the estate and forced it to close for a week. We're expecting more closures in the future and the team at Chirk Castle is taking several actions to mitigate the impact of severe weather events, including non-invasive tree surgery to help the trees become more wind resistant. 

Mullion Harbour, Cornwall

Managing rising sea levels

Mullion Harbour in Cornwall has faced the full force of the Atlantic Ocean since it was built in the 1890s. However, despite efforts to repair increasing damage caused by rising sea levels and storms, we're seeing the persistent decline of the ageing harbour structures.

Since the harbour came into our care in 1945, we've spent £2 million maintaining and repairing its two breakwaters. The majority of this money was spent in the years following 1995 when winter storms became more frequent and violent.

In 2014, the harbour was badly damaged by 80mph winds, heavy rainfall and waves, some more than 6 metres high. Major repairs were made but, less than 10 years later, signs of damage can be seen on the southern breakwater once again. 

We’re working with the local community to keep the working harbour as safe and resilient as it can be as we plan for future adaptation work on the southern breakwater. People have come together to carry out pointing repairs on the western breakwater and we're starting to have discussions about how to manage the damage on the southern breakwater where like-for-like repairs become more challenging.

Blickling Estate, Norfolk

Adapting to frequent flooding

Blickling Estate's proximity to the River Bure in Norfolk has played an important part in its history, which dates back to the medieval period.

Water is still an important feature of the estate today, but climate change is creating several challenges. High levels of rainfall and prolonged drought are threatening the structure of the buildings. The parterre garden is flooding to the point that water is being pushed through the brick walls of the moat, parts of which could collapse in the future.

Blickling Hall is built on a seam of clay that follows the line of the Silvergate stream up to the lake. In wet weather the clay swells, and in dry conditions it dries and hardens. The Hall is also showing signs of movement, likely caused by the constantly changing soil. If this continues, its external walls could start to crumble. Rain is also penetrating the building's roofs and walls because the gutters can't manage the increasing volume of water, and damp has led to decay and pest infestations in other parts of the building. 

We're working to help the estate adapt to these challenges in a number of ways. Research is being done to better understand the design and function of the estate's historic drainage systems, and the creation of a new drain, linking to two 8,000-litre storage tanks, has reduced flooding. The gutters, hoppers, stumps, valleys and downpipes are also being redesigned to better manage more intense rainfall and we're inspecting and repairing damaged roofs. Work to restore the Silvergate stream in 2019 has also reduced flooding in the Hall's basement.