RHS Biodiversity commitments
The RHS is seeking to encourage all gardeners to think constructively about the relationship of their garden to habitats, wildlife and biodiversity. By highlighting the compatibility between good gardening practice and biodiversity it is hoped to bring about biodiversity gain in gardens.
The RHS, in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, will seek to engage the gardening public with various activities throughout 2003. The two charities will be looking for support from other organisations and gardeners through an exhibit in the Lifelong Learning Marquee at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
In the course of these activities the RHS is looking to identify the attitude of RHS members, and the general gardening public, to wildlife and biodiversity. This will enable it to more effectively communicate practical information and advice in support of biodiversity and good gardening practice.
Further work is expected to survey gardens and gardening practices throughout the UK as to their biodiversity value and seek to define the resource gardens contribute to biodiversity.
The RHS recently became organisers of the national Britain in Bloom campaign – the largest horticultural competition in Europe. The campaign currently promotes nature conservation with ‘green lungs’ (wildlife corridors through communities) as an integral part of the judging criteria. The RHS hopes to increase awareness and recognition of the campaign as an important indicator of Best Value through the government’s Local Performance Initiative scheme. The RHS also hopes that Britain in Bloom will become integrated into the Green Pennant scheme (set up through Green Flag awards by Office of Deputy Prime Minister).
The Royal Horticultural Society is committed to enhancing biodiversity through:
- Employing horticultural best practice and encouraging a sustainable approach to gardening.
- Maintaining plant genetic diversity by growing a wide range of fruit and vegetable cultivars, and ornamental plants.
- Monitoring, recording and enhancing biodiversity at its gardens.
- Reducing chemical inputs in its gardens.
- Employing integrated pest management in its plant production and display glasshouses.
- Minimising peat use and carrying out trials of peat-free composts.
- Providing relevant scientific and practical advice to its members and carrying out scientific trials and research that benefit horticulture in general.
- Providing advice on the control of invasive alien plants and banning their sale at RHS gardens and shows.
- Ensuring that wood products used in RHS gardens, or offered for sale at RHS shows, are genuinely certified as coming from forests that are well managed with full regard to the environment.
- Deploring the illegal collection of plants from the wild.