Greenwood Plants partners with RHS and Sheffield University on carbon sequestration research
Plant grower and supplier Greenwood Plants has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Sheffield University to examine the carbon sequestration and storage potential of nursery grown plants for green spaces.
PhD student Louis Kosowicz from top plant research university is leading the project alongside professor and study supervisor Jill Edmondson.
The RHS’ head of environmental horticulture, Dr Mark Gush, is also involved in the research, which is to enable a greater understanding of the carbon dynamics and long-term benefits of plants.
“Enhancing our ability to predict the carbon dynamics of nursery grown plants as they establish will be an important contribution to environmental horticulture, helping quantify its benefits across wider scales,” says Gush.
Focusing on key native and non-native species grown in the UK, the research will assess the carbon balances from propagation through to different stages of growth and maturity. This can define a model to predict the longer-term carbon balances of these plant groups.
The project enables Greenwood’s commitment to mitigate climate change, as part of the next phase in its sustainability strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Melanie Asker, Greenwood Plants managing director says the company is “driving environmental change.”
She adds: “Greenwood is committed to driving environmental change and undertaking important research projects like this will provide valuable insight for the entire industry. We’re looking forward to learning more about the carbon benefits of the plants we grow as the study progresses.”
This research will provide more data to inform more sustainable planting, a collaboration that will run until 2028.