A show garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show called “Stop the Spread” will highlight how we can all work together to help prevent the introduction and spread of damaging plant pests, diseases and invasive non-native species. Commissioned by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) and created by award winning garden and landscape designer Jo Thompson, “Stop the Spread” will explore this issue in a way never seen before at the Show.
The garden will feature two distinct characters, contrasting beauty with the potential damaging effects plant pests and diseases could have on our gardens and natural environment.
David Slawson, Head of Plant Health Public Engagement at Fera said: “Raising public awareness and providing advice about how everyone can help us prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases is a high priority for Government. “We want this garden to make an impact by showing the worst case scenario if plant pests an diseases take hold. Ultimately we want to change the behavior of gardening professionals so they take action and for example source plants locally; clean footwear and other equipment regularly; and dispose of plants and garden waste safely.
“Chelsea offers us an innovative way to reach a large target audience who can actually make a difference to stopping the spread of plant pests and diseases, protecting the British countryside for
future generations to enjoy.”
www.defra.gov.uk/fera/chelsea