Forestry England have been awarded their “Plant Healthy” certification by Grown in Britain, one of the certification bodies for the scheme.
Forestry England explains that developments such as the one-hectare glasshouse at Delamere Forest have enabled Forestry England to lead the way in modern production methods for forestry seedlings. The facility grows a diverse range of tree species, that should ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of England’s forests.
Chris Hardy, Head of plant and seed supply, Forestry England says: “Forestry England have a key role to play in the battle against tree pests and diseases, and the importance of the actions taken by the nation’s forests have never been greater.
“It is crucial that we move towards improved plant health measures for our woodlands. The single most important step we can take is to ensure the biosecurity and traceability of planting stock.”
Forestry England has been a consistent and long-term partner in the development of more bio-secure supply chains and has worked with Grown in Britain to support the development of the Plant Healthy Scheme with a range of partners.
Dougal Driver CEO of Grown in Britain (GIB) said: “After several years of work behind the scenes, we are proud to be a certification body for the Plant Healthy scheme. A wide range of partners have been involved in this project, including Forestry England, who have shown consistent and knowledgeable leadership coupled with excellent technical support throughout. We would not be where we are without the support of Forest England and their determination to build more biosecure supplies for everyone.”
Forestry England manages and cares for England’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 235 million visits per year. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
Grown in Britain is a NFP organisation, championing the UK’s forests and their products through a robust certification scheme. Work focuses on certification, biosecurity, natural capital & woodland creation and research and development.
Grown in Britain week – the second week in October each year is a celebration of wood in all its forms.
Plant Healthy is the new certification scheme developed by the Plant Health Alliance to help people and businesses grow and supply healthy plants.
tags: UK Forestry