The Horticultural Trades Association brought a touch of Chelsea to the heart of Westminster as it hosted a planting workshop and dinner for MPs and Peers during Chelsea Flower Show week.
Held in Westminster Hall on Tuesday evening, the event gave Parliamentarians the opportunity to meet the businesses behind Britain’s environmental horticulture sector and experience first-hand the creativity, skills and expertise that help make events such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show a significant showcase for the industry.
The evening began with a hands-on planting workshop led by HTA members Neil Grant, Chair of the HTA Retail Committee, and Ruth Goudy, owner of Kiln Farm Nursery in Suffolk. MPs and Peers created their own planted containers using plants and pots kindly supplied by HTA member British Garden Centres.
In a nod to Chelsea’s award-winning tradition, each planted pot featured a commemorative plaque for participants to take away as a reminder of the role horticulture plays in supporting healthier communities, greener towns and cities, and economic growth across the UK.
The event brought together cross-party Parliamentarians, HTA members, and industry representatives to discuss the importance of environmental horticulture, recognise the critical benefits of green infrastructure and hear more about the pressures facing businesses across the sector, including rising employment costs, energy bills, water resilience, planning, the peat-free transition, and ongoing border and trade challenges.
Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the HTA, said: “Chelsea Flower Show captures the imagination of millions, but behind every show garden, display, and planted space are skilled growers, nurseries, landscapers, retailers and suppliers working year-round to bring it to life.
“Environmental horticulture is a sector worth £38 billion to the UK economy, supporting more than 722,000 jobs while also delivering enormous environmental, health and wellbeing benefits.
“Our members are helping create greener, healthier and more climate-resilient communities, yet many businesses are under increasing pressure from rising costs, regulation and ongoing trade disruption.
“This week provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the sector’s success while also discussing how government can work with industry through the development of a Horticulture Sector Growth Plan to unlock future growth, investment and environmental benefits.”
Amy Stubbs, Managing Director of British Garden Centres, said: “Chelsea week is an opportunity to celebrate the enormous contribution horticulture makes to communities, the economy and the environment.
“It is fantastic to see Parliamentarians getting hands-on with plants and sharing a memorable experience with businesses and people like us who sit behind the sector. We were delighted to support the event and help bring a little of the spirit of Chelsea into Westminster.”
Neil Grant, Chair of the HTA Retail Committee, said: “There’s something about hands-on horticulture that allows us to chat and share just how incredible plants, growing and horticulture can be in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
“We are all in danger of taking the trees, greenery and gardens around us for granted. Tonight has been an opportunity to bring our Your Garden Year theme of ‘It Starts with a Pot’ to life, while reinforcing the importance of horticulture as part of government thinking and planning for healthier communities, greener places and future growth. It also shows that policy engagement can be creative and fun too.”
Natalie Bennett, Green Party peer, said: "After visiting the Flower Show in the morning, parliamentarians' efforts, it has to be said, in no way matched up to the professionals', but the workshop was an important reminder about the need to focus on improving opportunities for education in horticulture.
“And with public health in such a parlous state, we discussed how important access to healthy green spaces, and opportunities to garden, to get your hands in the soil, is for all."
Attendees included Baroness Bennett, Sarah Russell MP - Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group, Ben Goldsborough MP, Caroline Voaden MP, former DEFRA Minister Daniel Zeichner MP, and members of the Gardening and Horticulture APPG from both Houses of Parliament.
The event formed part of the HTA’s ongoing engagement with policymakers to ensure environmental horticulture is recognised as a vital green industry with an essential role in delivering economic growth, biodiversity, climate resilience and public wellbeing.
