Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 30 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 April 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Monday, 19 April 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average length of the growing season was in (a) 1974, (b) 1984, (c) 1994 and (d) 2003 (i) in England and (ii) broken down by county. - Inc figures and fact that accurate data by county is not available.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of the growing season was in (a) 1974, (b) 1984, (c) 1994 and (d) 2003 (i) in England and (ii) broken down by county. [165751] Alun Michael: In responding, we are using the definition of the growing season in England to be the longest period within a year which: Starts--the first day in a period of five consecutive days during the spring when the daily average temperature was greater than 5.5oC, and Ends--the day before a period of five consecutive days in the autumn/winter when the daily average air temperature was less than 5.5oC. The twentieth century warming over central England has resulted in a lengthening of what is known as the thermal growing season by about one month. Most of the increase took place in two distinct phases. The first took place between 1920 and 1960, and the second between 1980 and 2000. The longest thermal growing season occurred in 2000 when it extended for 328 days. The thermal growing season is now longer than at any time since the start of the daily temperature series in 1772. Accurate data by county is not available. For further information please refer to the UKCIP02 Scientific Report (specifically page 10, Figure 7), available online: http://www.ukcip.org.uk/scenarios/ sci report/sci report.html.

Secondary information