09 May – 15 May 2022, including International Day of Plant Health on 12 May 2022
Text provided by Defra
Born out of the International Year of Plant Health 2020, National Plant Health Week is a designated week of action to raise public awareness and engagement on how to keep our plants healthy.
Although National Plant Health Week is led by Defra, it is a collaborative effort from over 20 organisations, including the Royal Horticulture Society and Horticulture Trade Association. By working together, we can reach a larger audience and communicate vital message surrounding plant health.
The week focuses on a key theme each day, to address important topics that will benefit plants and encourage society to enjoy and protect the plants around them using the hashtag #planthealthweek
The United Nations have this year newly designated Thursday 12th May, as the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The Day is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020. For more information about the day please see International Day of Plant Health, 12 May (fao.org)
Webinars for Plant Health Week
Tuesday 10 May
- BSPP Plant Health Club: Biosecurity at RHS Events, hosted by The British Society for Plant Pathology, on Tuesday 10th May at 12.30pm BST. https://www.bspp.org.uk/conferences/bspp-plant-health-club-biosecurity-at-rhs-events/. Anna Platoni of the Royal Horticultural Society will share her knowledge and experiences in biosecurity at RHS events at an informal online meeting chaired by Gail Preston, (BSPP Vice President and Chair of the EEDI committee, Oxford University) and co-chaired by Magdalena Boshoff (Plant Health Scientist at RHS Wisley). A free and informal zoom group with breakout discussions, aimed at early career researchers – studying, researching or in the first 10 years of a plant health career.
- The Linnean Society are hosting a webinar in celebration of the week that will bring together five historical plant collections and research institutes to show the ways plants and people share a history and a future. It’s free and from 6pm on the Tuesday 10th May. Register here: Stories from Plant Collections: Science, History and Culture Tickets, Tue 10 May 2022 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
Wednesday 11 May
- Webinar- Bacterial Plant Diseases– Title: Innovative approaches to controlling bacterial plant diseases. Date and Time: Wednesday 11 May, 1-2pm. Description: Our Plant Health Week webinar will explore emerging biocontrol methods including bacteriophages and microbiome management. There will be three short science talks and the opportunity to ask questions. More information and booking: https://bacterialplantdiseases.uk/event/innovative-approaches-to-controlling-bacterial-plant-diseases/
Thursday 12 May
- Prof Nicola Spence will talk for IPCC on Plant Biosecurity and Food security–International Day of Plant Health, 12 May (fao.org) webinar link Webinar Registration – Zoom 13.30-15.30 CET
- The Tree Council: Taking Action for Healthy Trees webinar on Thursday 12 May 6-7pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/taking-action-for-healthy-trees-webinar-national-plant-health-week-tickets-332914525307
- Landscape Institute Masterclass: Climate Change – Planting for a different world-Date: Thursday 12th July, 9am – 4pm- Link to an event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/li-masterclass-climate-change-planting-for-a-different-world-tickets-316662123937. The masterclass will explore mitigation of climate effects and carbon sequestration and the role plants play in combatting climate change. It will discuss wildflowers for carbon sequestration/ biodiversity. Participants will get an overview of the current state of knowledge about the impacts of changing climate on plants in designed landscapes and how this will impact plant selection -for survival, mitigation and carbon sequestration. Who will benefit: Landscape Designers, Landscape Design Professionals, Garden Designers
Friday 13 May
- Forest Research Seminar: Pests on the horizon for UK forests and a review of the Ips typographus eradication. Further details and registration. Please register by Wednesday 11 May 2022.
What can you do for plant health?
Call to action- We are all custodians of our plants, and you can play your part in keeping our plants healthy by:
- NUTURING the plants you have in your homes, and gardens.
- BOOST YOUR WELLBEING- Get out and about to your local woods, parks, and gardens to enjoy your green spaces.
- BUYING REPSONSIBLY – source plants from reputable nurseries and suppliers.
- DON’T RISK IT- Don’t bring back plants from abroad, as doing so risks bringing in a plant pest or disease.
- CLEANING YOUR BOOTS before and after going out and about in woodlands and parks to help limit the spread of potentially devastating plant diseases.
- LOOKING OUT for any unusual symptoms on trees and plants and reporting them to the Forestry Commission’s Tree Alert website or the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
- VISIT the Plant Health Action website to find out more.