British olives: A sign of global warming
Scientists say global warming has advanced to the stage where it is possible to plant an olive grove in Britain.
That nation's first olive grove has been planted in Devon, adding weight to several studies that have suggested olives, vines and other warm-climate plants will be able to flourish in a substantially warmer Britain, The Independent reported.
Mark Diacono told the newspaper his grove of 120 olive trees along the banks of the Otter River is expected to produce Britain's first home-grown olive oil within seven years.
Diacono, an environmental consultant, says there's no question global warming is affecting Britain.
Said Diacono: "We don't need to turn into Portugal really. We just need it to be slightly warmer for longer, and we are making that shift. We are crossing that threshold."
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
