The end of South facing gardens?
Warmer summers could see properties that have green areas looking north become more desirable. This is as people try to deal with the heat!
A Sunny south-facing garden has always been seen as the most desirable outdoor space.
But that may be changing, according to The Daily Mail (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/),who claims warmer summers in the UK could soon make them uncomfortably hot.
They suggests that north-facing gardens may become a better option as climate change marches on.
And they say a north-west facing garden is probably the best of both worlds.
Heat records were smashed in summer 2022, with temperatures hitting 40.3C (104F). This was a UK record and 40.3C hit for the first time, in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Harlow was not far behind with 40.1C.
The end of South facing gardens?
Houses that have been extended with south-facing glazed conservatories and side returns may become unbearably stifling, they added.
Jukes Estate Agents co owner Geoff Flewers said: ‘It’s getting incredibly hot in the summer. What we see now is maybe people have wonderful glazed extensions to their houses. It doesn’t matter what you put on them either. You can put on filters for the sun, but they become incredibly hot. What you often see is people putting in portable air conditioning units to make them usable.’
He said his 74 year-old cousin, who lives in Braintree, is finding her south-facing garden too hot.
‘A classic example, my cousin, who has a south-facing garden, has to go from the back to the front of the house when it’s really hot. It doesn’t help with her breathing,’ he said. ‘Traditionally it was always south-facing gardens that were the most desirable, it would allow children to play all day in the sun.
‘If you are south facing, it’s straight on your whole kitchen and garden.’
Is there a better solution?
Firstly, he suggests a better arrangement in the future might be what Geoff has himself. A north, north-west-facing garden.
This is cooler, with shade in the mid-afternoon – the hottest time of the day – and then some sun in the evening.
He said: ‘We have a very small garden facing north, north-west at an angle.
‘We have sun coming in the evening, when everyone is back from work, you can enjoy a bit of sun in the garden and not fry in extreme heat. That’s not a bad way of living.’
In further comments Geoff goes on to say: ‘As summers get hotter, those who have extended their houses with conservatories, glass roofs and side returns, it’s perhaps good not to have the baking sun all day long.
‘Certainly for young kids, or elderly people, south might not be ideal.’