Parliamentarians, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) members and directors met on 2 March in Parliament at a cross-party and cross-industry dinner to discuss the importance of UK environmental horticultural businesses and the gardens and green spaces they deliver.
Hosted by Lord Gascoigne and joined by a range of parliamentarians who share a passion for the sector, the discussion covered green growth, the planning of green spaces, education, and, with the right support, the opportunity for environmental horticulture businesses to deliver across policy portfolios.
In her speech, Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said: “Spring is definitely in the air, but the economic climate is more overcast… Against a tough backdrop, environmental horticulture should be seen not as a niche interest but as part of the solution. Our industry is not simply growers of plants. We are growers of growth. We cannot reach net zero without trees and plants. We cannot deliver biodiversity net gain without nurseries. We cannot build healthy communities without accessible green space. We cannot talk seriously about prevention in mental health without acknowledging the role of gardens and nature.
"Our vast, largely unrecognised national green infrastructure cools our cities, absorbs carbon, supports wildlife, reduces flooding and, quite simply, makes places people want to live. When Government speaks of infrastructure, we hear roads, rail, energy and housing. All important. But green infrastructure must sit alongside them — especially if we are building 1.5 million new homes.
“But those green spaces do not appear by magic. They depend on viable businesses – our members. Changes to the National Living Wage and National Insurance alone have added around £134 million in additional costs to our sector. Add business rate pressures, supply chain friction, regulatory costs, and energy price increases, and the direction of travel is clear. If we want a greener, healthier and more resilient Britain, we must ensure the businesses that quite literally grow that future can survive and thrive.”
