About

This year’s forth annual National Plant Health Week runs from 6-12th May 2024. National Plant Health Week is an annual designated week of action 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.

 


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. 

Raising awareness of how, by protecting plant health, we are protecting the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and our economy.

Factors such as globalisation of trade, increased travel and more plants and plant products entering the UK mean more threats to plant health. Protecting our country from harmful pests and diseases means that our plants can thrive in the future.

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.

In the UK we will be using this exciting opportunity to show how we can all help to keep plants healthy and contribute towards being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

Healthy plants benefit people, the environment and the economy

Approximately 1.3 billion kg of air pollutants were removed by woodlands, plants, grasslands and other UK vegetation (2015)

Plants produce 98% of the oxygen we breathe and make up 80% of the food we eat

The world’s food supply depends on about 150 plant species, of which just 12 provide three-quarters of the worlds food

A mature evergreen can intercept more than 15,000 litres of water per year, helping to reduce the risk of flooding

The correct placement of trees around buildings can reduce the need for air conditioning by 30% and reduce winter heating bills by 20-50%

The UK fresh cut flower and indoor plant market is worth £2.2 billion at retail level

Around 568,700 jobs across the UK are supported by ornamental horticulture and landscaping, that’s equivalent to 1 in every 62 jobs

"PROTECTING PLANTS,
PROTECTING LIFE"