UK environmental horticulture and landscaping businesses are being encouraged to take part in a new anonymous survey designed to strengthen the detection and reporting of plant pests and diseases and help protect the long-term resilience of the sector.
It’s an exciting collaboration between industry and government into understanding the information, training, and other needs of businesses to enable more effective non-native plant pest and disease detection and reporting.
The survey is open to any business involved in buying or selling ornamental plants, including e-commerce traders, garden centres, retail nurseries, supermarkets and shops, growers and traders of plants, trees and bulbs, garden designers, landscapers, and gardens open to the public.
It takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is entirely confidential, and includes multiple-choice questions alongside agree/disagree statements covering business practices, skills and knowledge, and training needs and preferences. The survey will close on Monday, 16 February.
Forest Research is the delivery partner for this project as the principal organisation for forest and tree-related research in the UK and a major contributor to plant health social research.
Non-native pests and diseases pose a growing risk to the UK’s plants and trees, as well as to businesses in their supply chains. With better enablers of early detection and rapid reporting, the industry and government together can help reduce both economic and environmental impacts.
David Denny, Director of Research & Knowledge Transfer at the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA), said: “The HTA is delighted to be playing a leading role in this project. Plant health is critical to the commercial success and sustainability of UK environmental horticulture and our members. This survey provides an important opportunity for businesses across the supply chain to share their experience and help shape practical, evidence-based training and other potential support.
“By taking part, businesses can play a direct role in strengthening our collective ability to detect and report plant pests and diseases at an early stage, helping to reduce their potential impact on businesses and the wider environment.”
The project is led by Defra, funded by the Integrated Security Fund, and delivered in partnership with Fera Science, Forest Research, Yorkshire Arboretum and an industry stakeholder group. Forest Research is the UK’s principal organisation for forest and tree-related research and a major contributor to plant health social research.
Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said: “Growers and businesses play a key role in early detection and reporting to support Defra's surveillance programmes for non-native plant pests and diseases, helping us to respond quickly and effectively.
"This survey will inform further support we can provide to the horticulture and landscaper industry, boosting detection abilities in order to continue to safeguard the country's plants."
Commenting on the research, Dr Bethan Stagg of Forest Research said: “I am really excited about this survey and looking forward to finding out more about the challenges that businesses are facing. Please consider completing this survey and sharing it with your contacts. Tackling invasive pests and diseases is a major challenge facing UK plant trade - working together is our best line of defence.”
Wayne Grills, Chief Executive British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) said: “We fully support this collaborative new survey and strongly encourage our members to respond during a quiet 10 minutes.
“Healthy plants are central to a thriving landscaping industry, and businesses can help inform better detection of pests and diseases by completing the survey.
“From plant-importing nurseries to large grounds maintenance contractors, our diverse membership is in a great position to provide feedback across the supply chain.”
Taking part in the survey will help inform future government training, guidance, and resource provision, supporting businesses to improve pest and disease detection and reporting, and helping protect them from the harmful impacts of non-native threats.
To take part in the survey, visit https://forms.office.com/e/rnPUxcvpJ2
