Defra have launched a new consultation on protecting hedgerows. The consultation seeks views on the best way to maintain and improve existing environmental protections around hedgerows, as well as inform Defra’s approach to enforcement. It seeks views on where Defra...

In the early years of his career Chris worked as a junior foreman at Hilliers Nursery. In 1986 he embarked on his career as Lecturer in Horticulture at Sparsholt College where he continues to inspire students today. Chris has a lifelong interest in plants, and has...

The Summer 2023 publication of The Horticulturist is out now for all members. View the preview of what's inside this edition here.

Abnormal, extreme, and unprecedented. Just three words that have been repeatedly used to describe the high temperatures of summer 2023, and the presence of El Niño means that forecasts are for much hotter weather to come. Settled conditions thanks to high...

Citizen science groups and volunteers, engaged through local urban forest volunteer schemes, will play a significant role in a new study of the West Midlands Urban Forest. The study, commissioned by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will investigate and...

The Government has launched a new £25 million Species Survival Fund to help drive action to halt the decline in species. The new funding will support projects with grants of up to £3 million to tackle habitat loss, safeguard our fragile ecosystems and create...

The consultation seeks views about the visa and how well it meets the needs of employers, employees and other organisations. The MAC are interested in views on anything to do with the visa, for example the economic impact of the scheme, how well the scheme works for...

An Independent Review into Labour Shortage in the Food Supply Chain report has just been published.  A key recommendation in the Government Food Strategy was the need for an independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain.  The independent review has...

We held a joint branch chairs and council meeting in Maidenhead on the 29th of June and had a really positive day with constructive ideas about where we are and what we want and we'll be sharing this with membership shortly. The photograph above is the unofficial...

The Horticulture and Landscaping Trailblazer Group are pleased to announce that the Horticulture and Landscaping Technical Manager apprenticeship (England) is now available for starts.  This apprenticeship is level five (foundation degree difficulty)...

DEFRA are seeking your opinion - survey’s close midday Monday 3rd July. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund supports the purchase of equipment, technology, and infrastructure designed to improve agricultural, horticultural and forestry productivity in a...

This is my first outing as the new president of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, having been vice president for the past two years and supporting Sue through some of the most difficult times. I want to thank her for all her hard work particularly through...

Defra have published a Plant Health Research and Development Plan (2023 to 2028). The plan summarises how Defra currently meets its plant health research and development needs and identifies our priorities for the future. It will guide the commissioning of Defra’s...

The Horticulture and Landscaping Trailblazer Group are pleased to announce that the Horticulture and Landscaping Technical Manager apprenticeship (England) is now available for starts.  This apprenticeship is level five (foundation degree difficulty) and suitable...

The Grand Final for the 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition took place on Saturday 6th May at the prestige Emmanuel College, Cambridge.  The college is one of the old colleges, founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to...

Growers will be able to apply for a Water Management grant in a few weeks’ time. More information is available at Water Management grants: get ready for round 2 - Farming (blog.gov.uk) . The grant which will open for applications in Mid-April covers horticultural...

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has opened its Call for Evidence (CfE) for the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) Review to understand sector views on the roles that are being filled by migrant workers, the salaries they are paid and implications of potential...

The UK Government recently published its Net Zero Growth Plan, which outlines how the UK will further its efforts towards net zero by 2050. The Plan includes more detail on support for farmers to calculate and reduce on farm emissions.  The headline publication...

Defra recently published the Nature markets: A framework for scaling up private investment in nature recovery and sustainable farming and the new Green Finance Strategy set out how farmers/growers can access payments from both the public and private sector for the...

I have just returned from the Harrogate Spring Flower Show where the Northern Branch manned a very busy advice stand. Thankyou to all members who made themselves available to answer, at times, demanding questions. Sarah Owen-Hughes once again hosted a very successful...

FEBRUARY 2024 UPDATE: On the 12th February The UK Government responded to the House of Lords Horticultural Committee’s report ‘ Sowing the seeds: A blooming English horticultural sector’ (6th November 2023) and published at the following link: Horticultural Sector...

The Spring 2023 publication of The Horticulturist is out now for all members. View the preview of what's inside this edition here.

The House of Lords have launched an enquiry into the Horticultural Industry, and we have been asked directly to contribute to this. It is a great opportunity and is likely to address how science and technology could support the industry, education opportunities...

The RHS is co-funding a £1 million ‘Transition to Peat-Free’ to assist UK growers/nurseries/gardeners in the transition to peat-free horticulture. As part of the project RHS recently sent out a survey to build understanding of the current position of nurseries in...

The Education Committee have laid out their agenda for the coming months focusing on what they propose to deliver. They have formed five focus groups: skills and training across the sectors, levels 1-3 including apprenticeships, higher education, careers in general...