HTA celebrates Baroness Bennett’s Horticulture Fellowship achievement
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has congratulated Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle on being awarded her Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) Fellowship in Horticulture. The accolade was formally presented at the IPT Christmas reception in Parliament on 8 December, hosted by the Speaker of the House, the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP.
Baroness Bennett completed the Fellowship after more than two years of visits to horticultural businesses, HTA members, community projects and sector events across the UK. Her programme included time with growers, garden retailers, a hospice garden, school gardening projects, nature reintroduction initiatives, RHS shows and HTA conferences.
Throughout the Fellowship, Baroness Bennett demonstrated strong interest in key horticultural issues, particularly those relating to biodiversity, access to green spaces and sector skills. Her longstanding passion for these topics aligns closely with her work as a Green Party peer.
Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the HTA, praised Baroness Bennett’s dedication and the positive engagement shown during her Fellowship. She highlighted the value of the IPT programme as a unique education-led initiative that deepens understanding between parliamentarians and industry.
Baroness Bennett expressed gratitude to the many HTA members who contributed their time and expertise. She noted that the experience equipped her with deeper insight into environmental horticulture, biodiversity-rich gardening, tree nursery production and the sector’s challenges—particularly around post-Brexit biosecurity and regulatory scrutiny.
The Industry and Parliament Trust Fellowship Programme provides MPs and Peers with hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of UK industry. Its horticulture-focused Fellowship continues to strengthen dialogue between policymakers and the sector, supporting informed decision-making on issues affecting gardens and green spaces.