In This Issue
Wesfarmers seeks fast-track exit from the UK
Grow your sales this season with Bord na Móna Growise Pro 5 All Purpose Premium Range
Gardman SKUs building up after Kings Lynn site re-opens
Everything in the garden is growing like mad
Resolva Pro TV Ad goes live this week
Still two weeks behind with plant sales
Smart celebration at Eureka Building
Parliamentary group explores post-Brexit options for horticulture
Former Miracle-Gro boss offers a view from the other side
Strong start to 2018 for Glee
Centres hope for better weather after Easter washout
Jody Lidgard opens latest Greenfingers garden
Garden industry can lead the way on single use plastic
Fosseway GC plans get go-ahead despite local opposition
Garden Centre directors take on Maserati Tour de Yorkshire
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Malcolm Morgan, founder and chairman of Zest 4 Leisure, passes away
Hanging pots lead the way for garden product sales
John Taylor Awarded 2018 Carlo Naef Trophy
Young plants dominate Veg-2-Gro chart
LOFAssured initiative gains strength across the garden furniture industry with 14 members already certified
Easter momentum lost for growing media sales
New GIMA-HTA conference will address strategic issues and solutions
Change at the top in Wild Bird Care Bestsellers
Smart Garden Products invest in their Supply Chain
Autumn Fair to showcase growing artisanal trend
The best of last week's
‘Closing down’ signs appear outside garden centres
Homebase Lincoln faces the Bunnings axe as Consultants are called in
British Garden Centres looking for sales to flow
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Food at Webbs awarded Food Hall of the Year
We want our centres to be plastics-free say Pugh's
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Parliamentary group explores post-Brexit options for horticulture

The first of three evidence sessions for the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) inquiry into the future of gardening and horticulture industry took place on 17 April at Portcullis House in London.

 

 

The session, chaired by Ian Liddell-Grainger MP, examined what is needed from government to secure the sector’s future post-Brexit. With the garden and horticulture industry contributing £13 billion a year to the UK economy and employing more than 300,000 people, there is a significant opportunity, with further investment, to grow this to £18 billion. In addition, the post-Brexit era provides a unique opportunity to increase UK plant production by replacing the £300 million worth of plant material imported every year. This would have a dual impact in helping to build economic growth and helping to mitigate the serious biosecurity risks associated with importing plant material.

 

The initial session, attended by three MPs and five peers, looked at incentivising UK nursery production expansion to boost economic growth and improve biosecurity. Evidence was provided by Raoul Curtis-Machin, HTA director of horticulture, Brian Fraser, director of Oakover Nurseries, Geoff Caesar, general manager of Bordon Hill Nurseries (part of Ball Horticulture) and Richard McIntosh, Defra’s assistant chief plant health officer. Topics covered included plant health, seasonal labour, import substitution, nursery expansion incentives and plant health assurance schemes.

 

As well as providing an overall industry perspective from the HTA and Defra the other witnesses were able to provide detail and impacts from each of their respective businesses. The session explored how the developing industry Plant Health Assurance Scheme could be supported by government and aligned with a nursery investment incentive scheme. The scheme was piloted by the HTA leading a cross-industry coalition during 2017.

 

Raoul Curtis-Machin said pertinent questions had been addressed at the session. “Horticulture brings so much to the UK economy and the timing is right now to push for further development to help achieve the dual success of increased growth and improved biosecurity,” he added.

 

Two further evidence sessions on nurturing innovation and education, training and securing the future workforce take place in May and July. A report will be launched at the APPGHG reception event on 29 October at the Houses of Parliament.

 

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