Ploughed into the ground: is this Tomorrow's England?

Overall, buckled rail lines, parched golf courses, disappearing wildlife and freak weather delivering alternating flood and drought could be part of a dramatically changed way of life illustrated in the booklet which delivers a stark but simple wake-up message: If you love England, act now to save what makes it special.

Without action, by people and government, everything from farming to fishing, sport to gardening and house prices to hedgehogs could undergo some form of change. The booklet raises awareness of what hotter drier summers, water shortages, flash floods and storms would mean to the region, notably for agriculture and horticulture.

'Our changing climate, our changing lives - South East' is produced by Tomorrow's England, a coalition of 11 organisations ranging from the National Trust to the National Federation of Women's Institutes, and from the Woodland Trust to WWF-UK.

It comes with a toolkit to help people communicate the reality of climate change and inspire everyone to take action. A copy of the booklet is available on a new web site www.climatechangeandme.net , together with key reports which have influenced coalition thinking and downloadable images from the report.

Seventy per cent of land in the south east is farmed, with agriculture and horticulture employing 50,000 people. Both are potential growth industries as rising fuel prices across the globe mean that the UK could be bringing in a lot less food from abroad.

But rising oil prices will inevitably raise the price of oil-based fertilisers. Farmers could also find themselves cultivating one of the hottest and driest areas of the country, with water shortages combining with rising temperatures to threaten irrevocable change, the report suggests.

The region could see new crops, such as sunflowers, soya, even olives and figs, but a shift in climate could be bad news for the soft fruit industry with its high water-consuming crops and their extreme weather susceptibility. Growers may revert to polytunnels for shelter and control of water evaporation, but they will only work as long as temperatures do not become too high.

Cider makers could enjoy initial bumper harvests, suggests the report, but thereafter see a rapid decline to a day when orchards are a thing of the past as warmer winters prevent apple blossom buds setting.

Ed Pomfret, head of campaigns at the Woodland Trust, said: "Climate change is already having a profound effect on the natural environment, including irreplaceable habitats like ancient woodland, raising life changing implications for us all."

"This is a valuable document which not only presents a snapshot of how that might affect everyday life, but also provides ideas for what we can do as individuals to make a real difference."

WWF-UK head of campaigns Colin Butfield added: "An increase in average global temperature of more than two degrees centigrade will have catastrophic results for our planet. Closer to home, the way we travel to work, the sports we play, our health, and our environment could all be affected by shifting weather patterns," explains Colin.

"It is also essential for the government to take a lead now with action to reduce our carbon emissions by including the 80% target for CO2 reduction by 2050 in the Climate Change Bill, currently being debated in Parliament."

Andrea Davies, senior campaigner at the Council for the Protection of Rural England, commented: "The changes which will alter the appearance of so many of our cherished landscapes in the South East are a wake-up call. Climate change presents us with huge challenges, but there are also opportunities for everyone to take action at a personal and a local level to reduce the impacts now and for generations to come."

Models suggest beech and oak trees would come under threat from gales, water logging and drought. Some birds could lose their natural habitats. The hedgehog, already in decline, could be extinct by 2025 if its habitual food of slugs literally dries up.

Hot spells could cause chaos on the roads as road surfaces suffer. On the trains, speed restrictions from buckled and fractured rails or trackside fires would become the norm.

Flash floods and storm surges are set to increase as the climate changes, particularly affecting the low-lying South East and impacting on thousands of homes and businesses.

Water demand in the region is due to rise by 11% by 2030, and water will become more scarce and expensive.

Colin Butfield added: ""We are already witnessing changes in our climate in the South East, along with every other part of the country. Such severe scenarios could be lessened as we still have the power to make changes for the better. The impact of homes on the environment can easily be decreased, for instance, with new developments built to high eco-standards and renewable energy playing an increasing role in providing our energy needs."