HEREFORD, UK: UK-based Wyevale Nurseries is contacting all its customers this month (June 2021) to highlight the importance of plant health and biosecurity.
Wyevale Nurseries says it’s essential everyone in the horticultural industry is aware of the Plant Health Alliance’s Plant Healthy Certification scheme and is urging other wholesalers to participate too.
Managing Director, Andy Johnson explains: “Along with sustainability, biosecurity is one of the most important things going on in our industry at the moment and we want all our customers to be fully aware of what the initiative means for them. We also urge more commercial nurseries across the country to join us and to get audited.
“We will be using the Plant Healthy logo going forward so our customers can be clear they are receiving only the best quality plants and that this is something that the nation’s ever-growing number of gardeners will want to know about too.
“This Defra-endorsed scheme is good for us all, as it helps reduce the risk of introducing and spreading destructive plant pests via our trade plant supply chains. Plus, it also protects our horticulture industry, other cultivated plants and natural habitats as well. We’re urging everyone in the supply chain to get involved and to get independently audited.”
The certification scheme makes it easier for retailers, such as garden centres, and those using plants for landscaping projects, to identify suppliers that trade and grow using the highest standards of health and biosecurity.
“We’ve always grown our plants using the highest voluntary standards. Now we’ve been officially recognised through the scheme for our level of professional commitment in this area, which has been described as ‘reassuring’ and ‘impressive’ by the Plant Health Alliance.
“We successfully passed its independent Plant Healthy audit, conducted by the scheme’s certification body, Grown in Britain, and were recently presented with our Plant Healthy Certification. But now we feel it’s important more British wholesalers join in and that those buying our plants are fully informed too.”
Along with other innovative horticultural businesses, Wyevale Nurseries was involved in the pioneering phase of the scheme, which was overseen by the Alliance Steering Group consisting of 19 UK-based organisations representing Government, trade and the third sector.
Members include representatives from arboriculture, forestry, ornamental horticulture, landscaping and farming organisations such as Defra, the RHS, HTA, Woodlands Trust, NFU and BALI.
“We’ve been pioneering on these issues for many years now. We’re now even more committed to proactive plant biosecurity, promoting the importance of protecting the health of our plant life from plant pests and diseases, helping safeguard the biodiversity of the British landscape and supporting the horticultural UK economy.
“Buying from us means our customers are guaranteed plants grown using only the highest standards of health and biosecurity and we’re protecting the environment too. It’s an important thing to do and an essential part of the world we live in today. If we all join in with this, as an industry, it can only be good for everyone.”
Wyevale Nurseries’ product selection is envied across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties. Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.
