Clippings Calls for Sustainable Gardening

Our roundup of the month’s latest gardening news and views

- By Sally Nex. Photographs by Peter Muller, Shawn Williams, RGB KEW, Andrew Gladman, Emily McParland, Andy Sturgeon, Trigger, This, Carl Robertshaw, Housman

There is fresh new urgency in the world of gardening to increase efforts towards more sustainable gardening. The impetus follows the recent COP26 United Nation’s Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, as new targets limiting carbon emissions were set in an attempt to fend off potentially harmful temperature rises.

Two key pledges from the summit agreement were a scheme to ensure a 30 per cent cut in methane emissions by 2030, and a commitment to end deforestation. Under discussion were urban tree planting, recycling plastic and using water responsibly. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – the only horticultural body with an exhibit – explored ways to use plants to tackle global warming, such as crops that need less water and fertiliser.

A 2021 survey for the Royal Horticultural Society found eight out of 10 gardeners think the government doesn’t fully recognise the impact gardening can have on the environment. “Britain’s 30 million gardeners can make a positive contribution towards the climate and biodiversity crisis – but we can’t harness this potential alone,” said Director General, Sue Biggs.

The horticultural industry has set targets for going greener, committing nurseries, garden centres and growers to a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Other industry pledges include recycling at least 10 per cent of plastic waste, using more recycled plastic in packaging and speeding up efforts to get peat out of potting composts.