Why plants are important
Did you know that plants produce 98% of the oxygen we breathe and 80% of the food we eat? Find out more about why are our plants so important.
National Plant Health Week
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. Over the last 10 years we have undertaken a range of activities to support this work, which includes education, training, and citizen science work. With an emphasis on working together, the participants can reach a larger audience and more effectively communicate and amplify vital messages surrounding plant health. The week also incorporates the United Nations International Day of Plant Health
Actions you can take to be a good plant health citizen this Plant Health Week:
• Look out for signs of pests and diseases on your local trees- report these through TreeAlert. This information supports important tree health monitoring and surveillance work, contributes to ongoing scientific research, and helps to protect the nation's trees
• ‘Don’t risk it!’ Don’t bring plant material (plants, trees, fruit and seeds) into the UK from trips abroad. These might be carrying harmful pests and diseases
• Buy your plants and trees responsibly from reputable nurseries and suppliers. If you are buying plants online, buy from a UK-based supplier where possible, to reduce the risk of harmful pests and diseases entering the country. Check out the YouTube Video: ‘Buying Responsibly with Pippa Greenwood’
• Keep it clean by cleaning boots, bikes and buggies before visiting woodlands and parks, otherwise you could spread harmful organisms like fungi, bacteria and insects.
• If you are a supplier or trader, look into becoming Plant Healthy Certified. You will be helping to protect our plants, landscape and wildlife.
Learn how to buy plants and tree responsibly with Pippa Greenwood (HTA)
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.
Free Activities for National Plant Health Week 2025
Forestry Commission
Tuesday 6 May 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM BST: Live Tree Health Clinic Q&A, with a panel including biosecurity officers, and invited guests from FR and Kew to answer questions and will be hosted on the new FC Facebook channel
Plant Hertitage National Committee
Wednesday 7 May 3:00PM - 4:30PM BST: Learn how a biosecurity plan can work for National collection holders Plant Health - Biosecurity & Biosecurity plans May 2025
RHS activity
RHS Garden Wisley : What's on RHS
What’s on in RHS Science & Collections / RHS
Join our plant-health-themed Hilltop Live talks, taking place twice daily during the week, including two allotment-themed panel discussions with Q&A
Plant Health walks, visiting the allotments as a location for discussion on plant health issues. Bookable through the RHS What’s on at Hilltop webpage. If visitors to the walks have any other questions after the walks, they can attend the Hilltop Live panel discussion, immediately after.
Tree Council
National Plant Health Week also co-oncides with National Hedgerow Week led by the Tree Council which includes:
Thu 8 May 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM BST: a talk on The Future of Hedgerow Trees: living with ash dieback
FERA
Thu 8 May 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon BST: an insightful and dynamic webinar exploring ‘Collaboration in Plant Health’ - a vital topic at the heart of protecting our natural environment, agriculture, and biodiversity.
International Day of Plant Health, 12 May | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
International Day of Plant Health, 12 May | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Blogs
Forest Research Blog on Canker Stain of Plane, and it’s introduction in ammo cases in the second world war
Forest Research Blog on Plane Lace Bug: A Delicate Micro Menace Concealed in the City
iNaturalistUK blog for Natioanal Plant Health Week
