The Horticultural Trades Association brought together Members of the Senedd and Welsh environmental horticulture businesses to highlight the sector’s significant environmental, economic and social contribution to communities across Wales, and to call on the next Welsh Government to strengthen cross-government support ahead of the 2026 elections.
Hosted by Mark Isherwood MS, the roundtable focused on the HTA’s Welsh Environmental Horticulture Manifesto and the role the sector can play in delivering economic resilience, climate action, biodiversity gains and healthier communities.
Environmental horticulture contributes £1.8bn to Welsh GDP and supports 37,000 jobs, with the potential to grow to £2.1bn by 2030. Beyond its economic footprint, the sector is fundamental to the green spaces that improve quality of life across Wales, with more than 80% of Welsh adults saying gardens and public green spaces benefit their physical and mental health.
Speaking at the event, Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said: "After a long, wet winter, it's uplifting to see early Spring bulbs, symbols of resilience and renewal. While weather has always influenced horticulture, recent years have brought additional challenges for our members beyond just unpredictable weather.
“The cost of running a business has risen sharply. Business rates, employment costs, supply chain disruption, border friction, regulatory change and energy prices have all increased. These cumulative pressures reduce businesses' ability to invest, recruit and innovate. And that matters because environmental horticulture is not a niche sector. It is foundational.
“When we held our recent Plants in the Senedd event, members across parties shared personal stories of gardening with family and visiting local garden centres. Horticulture connects deeply with people’s lives and our communities.
“81% of Welsh adults say gardens and public green spaces benefit their physical health. 86% say they benefit their mental health. Green spaces cool our towns, reduce flooding, improve air quality and strengthen biodiversity. They make places feel safer and more welcoming. The businesses represented here today are not only contributing economically. They are helping Wales become healthier, happier and more resilient.
“We welcome the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature Programme as there is strong ambition here in Wales, and we want to help deliver it. But those green spaces depend on viable businesses that need a supportive policy environment.
“We need a cross-departmental approach to environmental horticulture that recognises its role in health, climate resilience, education, planning and economic growth.
“We share the Welsh Government’s ambition to grow the horticultural sector. Our manifesto sets out practical steps to achieving that, and we look forward to constructive dialogue on how we can work together to deliver it. Wales understands the value of its landscape and its communities. Environmental horticulture sits at the heart of both. By working together, we can ensure that the places we cherish continue to thrive for future generations.”
Businesses attending the event, including Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Seiont Nurseries, Pugh’s Garden Centre and Swiss Valley Garden Centre, also described what many termed a “perfect storm” of rising costs. Increases in employment costs, business rates, energy bills and regulatory burdens are reducing their ability to invest, hire staff and innovate. They stressed that addressing these issues is vital to safeguard jobs, protect investment and ensure the continued success of the UK’s original green industry in Wales.
One of the key proposals in the Manifesto is the creation of an Environmental Horticulture and Green Spaces Group to strengthen cross-government coordination and ensure that policy reflects the sector’s full economic, environmental, and wellbeing value.
The roundtable also explored practical measures, including ringfenced funding for green spaces and maintenance, consistent kerbside recycling collections for recyclable non-black plastic plant pots, improved SME access to grant funding for water resilience and energy efficiency, and embedding horticulture within the Curriculum for Wales.
Mark Isherwood MS, said: “It’s been a real privilege to host the HTA roundtable at the Senedd today and hear first-hand from Welsh environmental horticulture businesses about the challenges they face and the value they deliver. This sector contributes £1.8 billion to our economy, supports tens of thousands of jobs, and underpins the green spaces that make our communities healthier and happier. The discussions today make clear that the Welsh Government must take a coordinated, cross-departmental approach to support these businesses, strengthen skills and investment, and unlock sustainable growth for horticulture to continue delivering for our economy, our environment, and the wellbeing of communities across Wales.”
