Kirsty is developing Plant Reception capability across all RHS Gardens in order to help prevent pests and diseases entering our gardens on incoming plant material. She advises curatorial teams about the risks associated with different plants and promotes best practice in RHS procurement and handling of new plants
I support the RHS Plant Health Guiding Principles by developing Plant Reception capability across all RHS Gardens. I am setting minimum standards for our Reception facilities and developing operational standards for how the Reception facilities function. I risk assess incoming plant material and provide diagnosis and advice where problems are found on plants in Reception or Gardens. I also provide pathology advice to members via the RHS Gardening Advice Service, and Plant Health training to both RHS staff and members.
“I am helping to keep the RHS Gardens free from potentially devastating pests and diseases.”
As the Biosecurity arm of the Plant Health team, we focus specifically on the plant health of the five RHS Gardens. We ensure that RHS Garden practices and activities comply with current UK plant health legislation and RHS Plant Health Policies to prevent damaging pests and diseases from being introduced into the gardens. We also undertake monitoring and surveillance of pests and diseases and provide a diagnostic and advisory service to the garden teams if problems arise.
The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.
