The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the Gardens Trust have joined forces to create a coalition of organisations across the horticulture and landscape industries to urge the government to make long-term investment in the UK’s green infrastructure a national priority.

Detailed within a joint letter to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Angela Rayner, the call includes:

• Establish a cross-departmental group to coordinate policy on green spaces across housing, health, environment and economic growth, building on the work of the previous Green Spaces Taskforce
• Work with industry to deliver a long-term Water Resilience Strategy, focused on protecting and storing water and investing in rainwater harvesting, storage and irrigation infrastructure to improve water security and reduce the need for summer water restrictions
• Integrate high-quality green infrastructure into new and existing towns and developments, including building rainwater storage into new homes as part of the Government’s housebuilding programme
• Increase and ringfence funding for the long-term maintenance of green spaces, ensuring parks, gardens and street trees are properly cared for and can continue to deliver environmental and community benefits

The call comes after a record-breaking summer, several heatwaves, drought conditions and water restrictions. The organisations say trees, plants, gardens and parks should be recognised as essential infrastructure and part of the policy solution to some of the UK’s biggest economic, environmental and community challenges.

Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA, comments on the call:

“The government has an opportunity now to put green infrastructure at the heart of how we plan and invest in the future – from building new homes and managing water to creating healthier communities and adapting to a changing climate. That means joining up policy across government, investing in water resilience and making sure green spaces are properly funded and maintained for the long term.

“Our message is clear: green spaces need to be planned, funded and valued as infrastructure from the outset, not added as an afterthought. The organisations behind this letter are ready to work with policymakers to make that happen.”

John Watkins, chair of the Gardens Trust, also comments:

“Our nation has understood the value of greenspace for hundreds of years and has consequently created a wealth of parks and gardens, which are both beautiful and much-cherished by the millions of people who use them. Now it is time for this generation to step up and not only care for but grow this legacy, for the benefit of our environment, nature, today’s communities and the generations to come.”

Both organisations are hosting a conference this week, where discussions and insights will be discussed.