Experiments in heatwave shade

We’ve had a heatwave in the UK recently. Then it moved across the continent, setting new records along the way – the hottest ever month of June in Britain, peaks as high as 46C in Spain and Portugal.

Like many houses in the UK, ours overheats. It’s almost a hundred years old and was built for a different time. The hottest temperature of the year in 1928 was 32.2C. Two decades would pass before the house saw temperatures above 35. The hottest day of the year has been over 35 for seven of the l...