The Unpredictability of UK Weather - Extremes Are the New Normal

As the UK endures its third heatwave of 2025 and reels from record-breaking winter floods just months ago, the question on everyone's mind is whether this wild weather is becoming the new norm. According to the Met Office’s latest State of the UK Climate report, the answer is a clear yes.

From unprecedented heat to more frequent floods and accelerating sea level rise, the UK’s climate is changing faster than ever. The statistics are stark, they also underscore the urgent need to adapt our infrastructure and growing practices - a challenge the team at Keder Greenhouse is well prepared for.

The UK Is Heating Up - and Getting Wetter

The Met Office report shows that 2024 was one of the UK's hottest years ever, part of a broader trend where each decade gets warmer. The last three years were the hottest on record, and extreme heat days - where temperatures soar more than 10°C above average - are now four times more likely than in past decades.

However, it’s not just heat. The UK is also getting significantly wetter, especially during the October to March period. This past winter was the wettest in over 250 years for England and Wales, causing widespread flooding from eastern Scotland to the Midlands.

The data also reveals that sea levels around the UK are rising faster than the global average, increasing the risk of coastal flooding.

In short, we’re seeing more heat, more rain, and more unpredictability - a dangerous combination for farmers, growers, and food systems.

Climate Impacts on British Nature - and Agriculture

The changing climate is affecting not just people, but also UK wildlife and seasonal patterns. Spring is arriving earlier, birds are nesting out of sync, and frogspawn is now being spotted in February. Trees are flowering earlier, and some species are struggling to adapt to erratic rainfall and drought conditions.

For farmers and growers, this means greater uncertainty and risk. Traditional outdoor farming methods are becoming more vulnerable to heatwaves, unseasonal frost, and excess rain that floods fields or delays harvests.

Why Controlled Environments Are Part of the Solution

That’s where Keder Greenhouse comes in.

Keder Greenhouses offer a unique solution for growers seeking durability, performance, and year-round reliability in the face of the UK’s unpredictable weather. Unlike traditional greenhouses or polytunnels, Keder structures combine advanced engineering with cutting-edge materials. At their core is our exclusive 9-layer bubble laminate cladding, designed to diffuse light evenly - eliminating scorch and shadows while promoting healthy plant growth. Paired with a corrosion-resistant ZN35 high-tensile steel frame, proven to withstand winds up to 120 mph, each greenhouse is built for long-term resilience. With a thermal R-value of 1.7, Keder Greenhouses create an ideal, stable environment for growing - whether you’re a dedicated gardener, commercial grower, or smallholder. Designed to last over 30 years, a Keder is more than a greenhouse - it's a growing solution built for British conditions.

Key Benefits of a Keder Greenhouse in a Changing Climate:

• Protection from heatwaves: Our UV-stabilised cladding diffuses sunlight and reduces heat stress on crops, allowing you to grow even in peak summer.

• Rain and flood resilience: Keder’s sealed roofing mitigates the risks of excessive rainfall and waterlogging. We have even built a Keder Greenhouse on a floating pontoon.

• Extended growing seasons: With thermal efficiency and integrated ventilation, growers can plant earlier and harvest later - maximising yields.

• Sustainable solutions: Our smallholder greenhouses come with wide aluminium gutters as standard for rainwater harvesting to support climate-smart farming.

  
  

A Call to Adapt

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has warned that the British way of life is “under threat” from climate change. The Met Office agrees: the UK’s climate is now “notably different” from just a few decades ago.

With these changes comes opportunity. Controlled-environment agriculture offers a way to future-proof food production, protect livelihoods, and maintain biodiversity - all while reducing reliance on chemical inputs and intensive land use.

At Keder Greenhouse, we believe that adapting isn’t giving up - it’s growing smarter.

Adapting to drought and floods

Ready to weatherproof your growing?

Get in touch to learn how a Keder Greenhouse can help you thrive in the face of climate uncertainty.

Email sales@kedergreenhouse.co.uk or call 01386 49094

The Unpredictability of UK Weather - Extremes Are the New Normal