Anyone with a garden is being asked to take action within the next 48 hours to help spot ‘worrying’ signs. The New Year Plant Hunt, co-ordinated by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), is a survey recording plants in flower around New Year’s Day.
This initiative, which has been gathering data for ten years, offers a unique snapshot of how our flora is responding to changing weather and climate.
Daisies and dandelions are among hundreds of native plant species blooming in the UK, in what scientists have called a “visible signal” of climate breakdown disrupting the natural world. People only have until January 4 to take part – and can sign up here.
A Met Office analysis of data from the annual new year’s plant hunt over the past nine years found an extra 2.5 species in bloom during the new year period for every 1C rise in temperature at a given location during the previous November and December. This year’s hunt started on Thursday and runs until Sunday.
The 2025 survey recorded 310 native plant species in flower, a figure that far exceeds the 10 species typically expected to bloom at this time of year. Common wildflowers like daisies, dandelions, and groundsel also continue to appear on the list of plants in bloom.
When non-native species are included, the tally rises to 646 species, featuring familiar species such as Mexican Fleabane as well as White and Red Dead-nettles.
Kevin Walker, Head of Science at BSBI, commented: “This new analysis shows a very clear link between rising temperatures and impacts on our plant species. This is yet further evidence that climate change is affecting our wildlife indiscriminately. This is a visible signal that everyone can see in their own gardens and communities.”
Dr Debbie Hemming, a leading climate scientist researching the effects of climate change on the natural world, added: “These findings underscore how rising temperatures and increasing climate extreme events are shifting the natural cycles of our plants and wildlife, providing tangible evidence that climate change is directly influencing the world around us.”
Grace Richardson is a Met Office early-career scientist who has been involved with the project. She said: “The project is already showing how effectively climate data and detailed plant records can be brought together to explain shifts in our environment. Being at the beginning of my career, it’s a privilege to contribute to this valuable work.”
The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) runs the annual New Year Plant Hunt, a citizen science project where volunteers record flowering plants between January 1 to 4 to track climate change impacts. Recent surveys show warmer winters lead to many more species flowering, with data linking a 1°C temperature rise to about 2.5 more species blooming, including ‘Autumn Stragglers’ and year-rounders like Daisies and Dandelions. The project gathers vital data on how milder winters alter plant phenology, affecting pollinators, with thousands participating across Britain and Ireland.
For more information on the New Year Plant Hunt click here.
