This year will be our third annual National Plant Health Week running from 8-14th May. National Plant Health Week is an annual designated week of action, taking place from 8 to 14 May 2023, to raise public awareness and engagement on how to keep our plants healthy. It is a collaborative effort by over 30 organisations across the UK who are committed to protect the health of our nation’s plants and trees. This year we are celebrating the importance of being a good plant health citizen.

By protecting plant health, we protect the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and our economy.

Why are our plants so important?

• Plants feed us: 80% of the food we eat comes from plants.
• Plants help us breathe plants produce 98% of the oxygen we breathe
• Plants help fight climate change- trees are vital carbon sinks
• Our plants also provide an annual value to our society of £15.7billion

But like people plants can become sick from pests and diseases, and we need your help to protect them.

Globalisation in trade and increased travel means threats to plant health are increasing.

In addition, climate change, and human activities, have altered ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and creating new opportunities for pests to thrive.

Protecting the UK from plants pests and diseases is far more cost effective than dealing with plant health outbreaks.

Government and the plant sector are leading the way, and taking actions to address these threats, but we all have an important role to play in keeping our plants healthy.

International Year of Plant Health

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) designated 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) a momentous opportunity to celebrate the benefits of healthy plants.

Since then we have instigated a new annual National Plant Health Week to help raise awareness about plant health. By protecting plant health we are protecting the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and our economy.

There are lots of events and activities taking place throughout the year, find out how you can get involved and help look after our plants and trees.