A new House of Lords Select Committee has been established to launch an inquiry into the Horticultural Sector and will convene this week in a move welcomed by the Horticultural Trades Association.

The Select Committee represents a first for the subject of horticulture in Parliament.

HTA CEO Fran Barnes believes the granting of the Committee by Parliament represents a symbolic moment for the industry:

“This Committee is an exciting opportunity for Environmental Horticulture and we look forward to working with Peers following its launch this week. We would like to congratulate Baroness Fookes who has long been a friend of horticulture and gardening for playing such a key role in establishing the Lords Committee. We will support the Committee with evidence and through our membership of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group – a cross-sector working group.

“Our members play a crucial role for the UK’s economy with £6.3 billion in tax revenue each year, and the sector underpins 50% of the 25-year Environment Plan and is a source of physical and mental health benefits to millions of Brits. Trees, plants and gardens are not just much loved but are so critical to our biodiversity, environmental resilience and net-zero ambitions. We hope that our industry’s contribution can be fully appreciated, supported and developed in Westminster.”

The HTA represents the entire environmental horticulture supply chain across the UK including growers, garden centres, landscapers, manufacturers and service providers; a total of nearly 1,500 members.