Britain is in the temperate zone and we have a maritime climate - generally, mild wet winters and drier warmer summers, with four distinct seasons. I believe prevailing winds are from the west, bringing higher rainfall from the Atlantic to the west side of the country. Very broadly, the west side is more grazing land and the east side arable land. The climate is also affected by the gulf stream, and the very southwest of England has very mild winters with little if any frost and can support mediterranean plants normally found further south. Of course, this year was different with a period of very cold weather in the winter and now, a prolonged very hot, very dry period, although there is a general trend of more extreme temperatures due to global warming. We're not geared for either, so there is always great disruption when they happen.