Mild November prompts 'second spring' in UK

Flowers and plants entered a so-called "second spring" in November due an "exceptionally mild" month.

As a result of the warmer conditions, many flowers prolonged their bloom for months longer than usual, horticulturalists have said. Their change in behaviour could have an impact well into next spring. November was 2.2°C warmer than average, according to the Met Office.

Gardeners have been dealing with the impacts of mild weather in November, with some flowers prolonging their bloom (Irene Harrison).

Nikki Barker, a senior adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society, said the mild climate has created some unseasonable sights across the RHS's public gardens. "Things we'd expect to flower into October, like fuchsias and salvias, are still flowering now and show no signs of stopping," Ms Barker said.

"Roses are putting on new buds and they're still producing, so it is quite a considerable extension to the flowering season. I even still have coriander growing in my vegetable pot."

The end of October was atypically mild, too, and triggered an influx of Pallid Swifts to Britain. After the mild November, temperatures have dropped as December has begun.