The report has shown that the total GDP footprint of the UK’s ornamental horticulture industries in 2017 was £24.2 billion.
Other findings in the report include:
- Around 568,700 jobs across the country were supported by ornamental horticulture and landscaping in 2017.
- Some £5.4 billion in tax revenues to the Exchequer were linked to ornamental horticulture.
- Garden tourism accounted for £2.9 billion of the sector’s contribution to UK GDP.
- Engagement with gardening, green spaces and nature also offers profound benefits for mental, physical and social health and wellbeing.
- There is also a broad slate of crucial ‘ecosystem services’ that natural spaces and green infrastructure provide.
- The presence and proximity of natural features adds an estimated £131 billion to the value of the UK’s housing stock.
Gardening stalwart Alan Titchmarsh is championing the findings and called for proper governmental recognition and support – and a rethink on policies which will see a million more homes without gardens by 2020 than in 1995.
The report, carried out by Oxford Economics, can be found in full by clicking here.