World Monuments Fund: How can we preserve historic sites in the face of climate change?

From the moat at the Tower of London to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, historic sites and gardens are under threat from climate change. Recognising this as a major challenge for our society, the World Monuments Fund Britain has set itself a challenge: to adapt these sites in order to protect our heritage.

What do the moat at the Tower of London, Central Park in the United States and the King’s Kitchen Garden at Versailles have in common? These historic sites and gardens are all under threat from climate change. “This is one of our greatest challenges, not only for the world as a whole, but also for our heritage,” explains Magnus von Wistinghausen, Director General of the World Monuments Fund Britain.

Founded 61 years ago, the WMF is an international NGO dedicated to the protection of heritage around the world. In 2024, the organisation set itself a challenge: to tackle the threats posed by climate change to historic sites through its ‘Climate Heritage Initiative’. With offices across the globe, WMF Britain – which opened 30 years ago – is working on this initiative to protect the country’s most iconic monuments. These include the moat at the Tower of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The aim is to understand the risks in order to plan for the future.

Converted moats

Under unusually warm London sunshine, tourists are flocking to visit one of the English capital’s most iconic historic sites: the Tower of London. Built in the 1070s along the River Thames by William the Conqueror, the building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, despite the site’s protected status, the moat surrounding the fortress is under threat from the climate crisis.

To preserve heritage at risk, the World Monuments Fund has selected six sites for its ‘Cultivating Resilience’ programme, which forms part of the ‘Climate Heritage’ initiative. The list includes the moat at the Tower of London. ,‘The sites we selected were indeed chosen on the basis of specific needs, but we also wanted to ensure genuine diversity in terms of geography, challenges and site types… ’ says Meredith Wiggins, Senior Director of Climate Adaptation at the World Monuments Fund.

Drained in the 19th century at the instigation of the Duke of Wellington due to drainage and sanitation issues, the moat – which cover an area of 15,000 m² – was transformed into gardens. Today, WMF Britain, in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, is monitoring water levels and weather conditions to address the climate-related threats facing the site. Experts and scientists are also working on species conservation and biodiversity to establish a sustainable ecosystem within these moats. ‘We will be working with a number of experts alongside the World Monuments Fund, both within our organisation and with specialists in landscape architecture, soil science and other fields…’ , explains Jen Stein, Head of Sustainable Development for the historic royal palaces.

Rethinking greenhouses

Whilst the moat at the Tower of London is feeling the effects of climate change, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, are no exception. As part of the ‘Greener Greenhouses’ programme, led by the Climate Heritage initiative, the site’s two iconic buildings – the Palm House and the Water Lily House – are a perfect example of this.

Amidst the sweltering heat, the gardeners make the most of the morning tranquillity to tend to the plants in the Palm House and the Waterlily House. Dating from the 19th century, these buildings are fitted with an obsolete heating system with a high carbon footprint. “Palm houses are probably the least energy-efficient buildings ever conceived. This is partly because, when they were designed, energy was cheap, and partly because we lived in a very different world,” explains Magnus von Wistinghausen.

In partnership with Kew Gardens, the WMF Britain is developing solutions to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions. Several plant collections have already been relocated, whilst architects and scientists are working to redesign the interior layout of the glasshouses to improve their energy efficiency, whilst preserving their historical value.

With nearly 300,000 specimens and plants, the Royal Botanic Gardens are an important repository of biodiversity. “It is not just the building that needs to be preserved, but also what it contains,” argues Meredith Wiggins.

What next?

Whilst the World Monuments Fund has chosen to focus its efforts on certain sites, many others are still waiting their turn. Thanks to field trials and the experts working on these issues, the aim is to replicate the most effective solutions at other sites under threat. “These places are not just victims of climate change; they are also places where adaptation solutions can truly inspire everyone,” concludes Meredith Wiggins.

For further information, please see our dedicated feature on our digital platform, Museum TV.