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Box 11.2: Case Study
Royal Horticultural Society: Plants for Bugs
Alistair Griffiths, Director of Science and Collections, Royal Horticultural
Society, UK
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has identified that the UK’s garden
plants, gardeners and the 27 million gardens play a significant role in supporting biodiversity. They concluded that the best strategy for gardeners wanting
to support pollinating insects in gardens is to plant a mix of flowering plants
from different countries and regions. They also suggest that emphasis is given
to plants native to the UK and the northern hemisphere (though exotic plants
from the southern hemisphere can be used to extend the season). In addition,
regardless of plant origin (native or non-native), the more flowers a garden
can offer throughout the year, the greater the number of bees, hoverflies and
other pollinating insects it will attract and support (Salisbury et al. 2015,
2017).
The RHS translated this research knowledge so as to reconnect people
back with nature and encourage more people to put garden plants that attract
wildlife into their gardens. An intervention such as this, which encourages
people to support biodiversity through choice of species when gardening, has
the potential to simultaneously improve both human health (by increasing
exposure to biodiverse environments) and the health of the natural environment. The RHS worked with the UK horticultural industry and with the UK
Government’s National Pollinator Strategy and produced information for gardeners in the form of bulletins on-line (Royal Horticultural Society 2015).
The research findings were also used and disseminated through the RHS
networks such as: through the Campaign for School Gardening with 34,000
schools; Britain in Bloom with 300,000 volunteers; and through shows, gardens, and retail, in order to help safeguard nature. The Plants for Bugs work
(Fig. 11.6) showcases how scientific research and development, industry, gardeners and government can join together to inspire people to choose and grow
garden plants for pollinator and biodiversity benefit. This creates a new
ecosystem- service product line, which in turn increases plant sales and the
economic bottom line for the horticulture industry, whilst encouraging and
supporting biodiversity.
Pollination is a key ecosystem service that substantially contributes to the
global food supply and human nutrition (Fig. 11.7). The RHS Pollinator plant
lists have been widely adopted by the horticulture industry, and the government’s National Pollinator Strategy (England) launched in November 2014
endorses RHS Plants for Pollinators and encourages gardeners to choose
plants that provide resources for pollinators.
(continued)
P. A. Cook et al.
Box 11.2: Case Study
Royal Horticultural Society: Plants for Bugs
Alistair Griffiths, Director of Science and Collections, Royal Horticultural
Society, UK
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has identified that the UK’s garden
plants, gardeners and the 27 million gardens play a significant role in supporting biodiversity. They concluded that the best strategy for gardeners wanting
to support pollinating insects in gardens is to plant a mix of flowering plants
from different countries and regions. They also suggest that emphasis is given
to plants native to the UK and the northern hemisphere (though exotic plants
from the southern hemisphere can be used to extend the season). In addition,
regardless of plant origin (native or non-native), the more flowers a garden
can offer throughout the year, the greater the number of bees, hoverflies and
other pollinating insects it will attract and support (Salisbury et al. 2015,
2017).
The RHS translated this research knowledge so as to reconnect people
back with nature and encourage more people to put garden plants that attract
wildlife into their gardens. An intervention such as this, which encourages
people to support biodiversity through choice of species when gardening, has
the potential to simultaneously improve both human health (by increasing
exposure to biodiverse environments) and the health of the natural environment. The RHS worked with the UK horticultural industry and with the UK
Government’s National Pollinator Strategy and produced information for gardeners in the form of bulletins on-line (Royal Horticultural Society 2015).
The research findings were also used and disseminated through the RHS
networks such as: through the Campaign for School Gardening with 34,000
schools; Britain in Bloom with 300,000 volunteers; and through shows, gardens, and retail, in order to help safeguard nature. The Plants for Bugs work
(Fig. 11.6) showcases how scientific research and development, industry, gardeners and government can join together to inspire people to choose and grow
garden plants for pollinator and biodiversity benefit. This creates a new
ecosystem- service product line, which in turn increases plant sales and the
economic bottom line for the horticulture industry, whilst encouraging and
supporting biodiversity.
Pollination is a key ecosystem service that substantially contributes to the
global food supply and human nutrition (Fig. 11.7). The RHS Pollinator plant
lists have been widely adopted by the horticulture industry, and the government’s National Pollinator Strategy (England) launched in November 2014
endorses RHS Plants for Pollinators and encourages gardeners to choose
plants that provide resources for pollinators.
(continued)
P. A. Cook et al.