Adam Dance, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil visited Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) member, Brimsmore Gardens, as part of the HTA’s continued political engagement programme, to help highlight the key issues facing its members to government.

Hosted by Karen Hillard, garden centre manager, Adam Wallis, site manager, and Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, Adam Dance was given a tour of the Yeovil-based garden centre, which supports British growers and suppliers across all departments.

Showcasing Brimsmore Gardens’ positive contributions to the UK’s environmental horticulture sector, with its ever-growing sustainability initiatives, such as rainwater harvesting, solar panel installations and pot recycling schemes, The Gardens Group team were able to demonstrate the important role that small to medium-sized businesses are playing in helping the UK reach its net zero targets.

Adam Wallis, site manager at Brimsmore Gardens, explains; “It was a pleasure to welcome Adam Dance MP to Brimsmore Gardens and demonstrate the positive impact we have in the local community, by promoting gardening as a force for good when it comes to people and planet. It is important that our policy makers understand the potential benefits of environmental horticulture, not just for the planet, but for the health and wellbeing of the population, so this was a great opportunity to put these issues on our local MPs radar.”

The visit came about following the HTA’s ‘Plants in Parliament’ event earlier this year, which was attended by 100 MPs, including Adam Dance, and highlighted the sector's potential to deliver growth and solutions to pressing challenges.

Picture caption: (L-R) Karen Hillard, garden centre manager, Adam Dance, Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, and Adam Wallis, site manager.