One hundred businesses have now complete the Plant Healthy ego - judgment checklist . Each of these businesses have received a free report to help improve their plant health and biosecurity practices .
The ego - assessment checklist – www.planthealthy.org.uk- is base on the requirement set out in the lately published Plant Health Management Standard . It is a forerunner of the Plant Health Assurance Scheme that is currently under development in full term of strategy structure and funding .
Alistair Yeomans , HTA Horticulture Manager , comment , “ This is a promising start , especially given that the time of year has been very in use . I urge horticultural manager to use this destitute ego - assessment tool as it will help protect their businesses , our industry and the natural environment against destructive plant pests and diseases . ”
The self - assessment checklist is for use by all businesses and administration in the cosmetic and amenity plant supplying chain , including nurseries , landscapers , couturier , retailers , arboriculturalists , and public gardens . It take to assist managers identify and reduce the risks associated with the significance and trade of industrial plant .
“ The Plant Healthy Assessment was a very useful tool for my business . The whole process was effective , targeted and professional . It help me determine which region of the business ask further input to improve our biosecurity and flora health protocol ” , tell Kyle Ross , Production Manager , Wyevale Nurseries Ltd.
“ Completing the Plant Healthy questionnaire not only highlight the intensity level and failing in our plant wellness management processes , but by asking questions of us , and our procedure , the questionnaire highlighted some view of industrial plant wellness security that we had not previously considered . It is now integral to our due industriousness ” , Stan Green , Managing Director , Growforth Ltd , commented .
“ Overall a really useful tool to help identify or affirm weaknesses in a business ’s biosecurity , this then render a great structure to ferment from to carry through the missing documentation ” , Gavin Cooper , General Manager , Prior Park Garden Centre , said about the tool .
Biosecurity has become an increasingly prominent issue within the cosmetic and amenity horticulture sector , especially grant the threat of Xylella circularize further in Europe . Also , there is an ever - improving agreement of the cost that invasive works diseases can cause the British thriftiness . A recent subject area by the University of Oxford and the Sylva Foundation estimated that Ash dieback alone will cost the British economic system £ 15 billion .
In terms of individual horticultural line of work , in one recent case study it was reckon that the enforcement of Xylella irruption bill may ensue in a 15 % loss of turnover for a glasshouse . This does not let in a value for exit of cut-rate sale due to repute which would undoubtedly tally to the release .
The Plant Healthy self - judgement putz keep going business sector to understand the statutory requirements that concern to the trade in plants . It also provides additional counselling as to how managers can protect their business and their customers from damaging pestis .
Ultimately , by analysing the endangerment of pest introductions , diffuse and carry out appropriate command measures , line will improve their level of protective cover against invading pests . Importantly , this will also help protect the blanket flora supplying concatenation , our garden and the British countryside .
you may get to the Plant Health Management Standard , take the free Plant Healthy ego - assessment checklist and pick up a devoid theme at : www.planthealthy.org.uk
Alistair will be talking alongside James Barnes , Chairman of the HTA , at Scotland ’s Plant Health Conference on 28 May . To get hold out more about the event , visithttps://www.planthealthcentre.scot/events/scotlands-plant-health-conference
For more informationHorticultural Trades AssociationHorticulture House19 High StreetThealeReadingWest BerkshireRG7 5AHT : +44 ( 0)118 930 3132Fax : +44 ( 0)118 932 3453NGGV : +44 ( 0)118 930 2092www.the-hta.org.uk
