Coronavirus: Gardening industry at ‘crisis point’ as millions of plants and trees to be thrown away

The horticultural industry is at “crisis” point, a trade body has warned, as the coronavirus pandemic forces the closure of garden centres across the UK.

Growers – many of them family businesses – could be forced to bin millions of pounds worth of plants and trees because they have no buyers for their products, The Horticultural Trades Association said (HTA).

It called on the government to step in and provide financial assistance of up to £250 million to help the industry avoid imminent collapse.

The HTA said around 650 businesses across the UK produce ornamental crops, contributing £1.4 billion to the economy each year. It added that the sector employs more than 15,000 people directly and almost 30,000 indirectly.

Sales have plunged since Mother’s Day – one of the busiest periods for the sector – when people had already begun to self-isolate, the trade body added.

The coronavirus lockdown means it is unlikely that sales will see a resurgence over the Easter and May bank holidays.

The value of lost plant sales in the UK could be as high as £687 million by the end of June, according to HTA estimates.

The HTA has asked for funding to help support the ornamental crop sector, which grows bulbs, bedding plants, cut flowers and pot plants for garden centres, supermarkets, florists and DIY stores.

Broadcaster and gardener Alan Titchmarsh backed the call and urged the government to act quickly.

He said: “Without some form of rescue package, we are destined to see our gardens and public open spaces decline as growers find it impossible to recover from unsustainable losses.Businesses will disappear overnight in a situation that will take many years to reverse.

“I urge the government to put in place a rescue package which will enable British horticulture to survive. Without it, our gardens and open spaces – a vital source of solace and nutrition to those at home – will suffer irreparable damage.”

Speaking on behalf of the HTA, Chairman James Barnes said: “We have hit a perfect storm in the UK. The seasonality and perishability that is unique to our industry means that growers are potentially facing stock losses on an ever-rising scale as each day passes.

“We are calling for the government to work with the HTA, as the industry’s representative body, to come up with a financial support scheme to help those businesses which have had to scrap perishable stock and are facing a huge financial crisis.”