The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are partnering to establish a new £3 million National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health, aimed at researching and tackling current and emerging threats to the UK’s green spaces.

Backed by funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the initiative will bring the two organisations together with industry partners and other stakeholders to help safeguard the UK’s 23 million gardens and rapidly growing horticultural sector. The industry contributes £38 billion to the UK economy and supports more than 722,000 jobs nationwide.

Defra Chief Plant Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spence said:  
Climate change and globalisation are increasing the range and diversity of threats to our plants and this groundbreaking new centre marks a significant step forward in how we protect UK biosecurity.

Bringing together expertise to deliver innovative research and science will help us stay ahead of emerging threats and better protect the country.

The announcement of the Centre falls during Plant Health Week which runs from 11-17 May.