The University of Reading has initiated the largest fruit tree monitoring project in the UK, incorporating the observation of peach and apricot tree flowering dates for the first time. Due to global warming, these fruit varieties are increasingly suitable for the UK climate, allowing for extensive data collection on their blooming patterns.
The FruitWatch project aims to discern the impact of climate change on fruit tree blossoms, with a call to the public to assist in determining whether rising temperatures prompt earlier flowering across different UK regions. The initiative, led by PhD researcher Chris Wyver, is not just limited to peach and apricot trees but also includes quince, sloe, apple, cherry, pear, and plum trees.
Wyver highlighted the significance of the study, stating, "FruitWatch is back for a third year in 2024 and it's bigger than ever before. This year, we are asking people to monitor four new fruit trees so we can understand how climate change is interfering with the flowering dates of various trees." The research underscores the dependency of fruit trees on insect pollination and the potential negative effects of altered flowering times on pollination and fruit production.
Source: reading.ac.uk