Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) outbreaks in the UK pose a serious threat to our oak trees. Boningale are ceasing importation of oak trees effective immediately, and will only be sourcing UK oak stock. Read more

Top retailer and supplier brands attended BHETA’s workshop, to discuss its responsible knife retailing campaign.  The first actions in the responsible retailing campaign will be announced within weeks. Read more

The HTA’s sustainability matters conference discussed pots. Why Taupe? Is it better to recycle, reuse or are biodegradable pots a way forward? Should there be an industry agreed policy? Read more

Government asks public not to bring back any plants or seeds, flowers, fruit or vegetables to the UK Plants as they can carry pests and diseases that would destroy UK plants, trees and crops. Read more

With concerns about the environment and sustainability high on the consumer agenda it is important that businesses are able demonstrate and communicate the actions they are taking. The conference seeks to address this and provides an overview of consumer insight, inspiration and discussion about sustainability in horticulture. Read more

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is calling on gardeners to help locate a beneficial garden slug that could be on the verge of extinction in the UK. Read more

The southern green shield bug, pear rust and the woolly aphid were of increasing concern among gardeners calling the RHS in 2018. Read more

One of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries is now (March, 2019) using recyclable plant pots for all future retail plants that it’s currently potting. Read more

Neil Bragg from Bulrush Horticulture is the new chairman of the Growing Media Association (GMA) with Ben Malin from Godwins taking on the role of vice-chairman. Read more

BALI calls for dialogue between turf suppliers and users to manage shortages.  The turf industry needs a warm, wet spring to recharge stocks. Read more

Plant health and biosecurity were the key topics of the day at the HTA Healthy Plants, Healthy Business conference, in association with APHA, which took place at Horticulture House in Oxfordshire on 29 January 2019. Read more

During 2019 and into the future Chapel Cottage Plants will be trialling a new kerbside-recyclable carry tray alongside the introduction of new one and three litre pots. Read more

The AIPH has welcomed the UN’s proclamation that 2020 will be the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), made by the UN General Assembly on 20^th December 2018 in Rome. Read more

Defra has announced that the outdoor use of metaldehyde, the active ingredient in many slug pellets, will be phased out over 18 months, with its sale for outdoor use banned from next July. Read more

A new environmental scholarship has been launched by the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) in the name of flower seed trade legend, John Gibson. Read more

The spittlelbug, native to the UK, is the chief carrier of Xylella in Southern Europe.  The RHS is asking gardeners and nature lovers to report spittle sightings to understand how Xylella might enter and spread here. Read more

One hundred businesses have now completed the Plant Healthy self-assessment checklist. Each of these businesses have received a free report to help improve their plant health and biosecurity practises. Read more

The new Welcome building that opens next month at the RHS Wisley garden will sell more unusual and rare plants from one place than anywhere else in the UK. Read more

Consumers don’t trust business when it comes to the environment. The HTA sustainability Matters debate heard examples of garden companies ‘Doing the right thing’ but heard warnings of Green-wash and Green-mush. Read more

Pressure is increasing on organisations to take a close look at their use of plastics in products and processes. The AIPH recently brought together key industry players in the Netherlands, and the HTA will do the same later this month. Read more

US Jury finds glyphosate contributed to man’s cancer. Next it will decide whether Bayer (Monsanto) is liable. Also, the EU has named the four countries that will assess the future of the weedkiller within the EU. Read more

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company are very proud of their environmental credentials and have achieved the BS8555 accreditation for environmental management for ten consecutive year. Read more

Hillier nursery director, Hossein Arshadi, says schemes to halt spread of pests and disease are inadequate and create a false sense of security.  He calls for a ban on imports of host plants. Read more

What is thought to be the country’s first colony of a species of webspinners was discovered in the glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey last summer. Further evidence, it says, of the impact globalisation is having on our gardens. Read more

“Britain Needs More Holes,” says TV’s Nick Baker. Naturalist and television presenter Nick Baker is calling for more people to put up nestboxes. Read more

Hillier Trees report signs of confidence and buoyancy in the market, with particular growth in demand for semi-mature trees, despite a backdrop of political uncertainty.   Read more

The recently launched Plant Healthy website provides a self-assessment tool for business to improve their plant health practises to protect the horticultural supply chain from damaging pest and diseases. Read more

Following the occasional colder snap so far this winter, The Met Office has detected signs that cold winter weather resulting from a sudden stratospheric warming is on the way for the UK.

Here’s your chance to catch up with some of the events in the retail garden sector that you may have missed. It was a turbulent year with the collapse of Gardman; around 60 garden centres changing hands or closing, Wyevale, Bunnings, Snow and drought. This is open to all. Read more

The RHS and David Austin Roses join new research to fight the emerging threat of the Rose rosette virus, which has been responsible for the destruction of entire collections in the USA and Canada.  Read more