Page - 268 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

268 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 support- ing 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 environ- ment. The RHS worked with the UK horticultural industry and with the UK Government’s National Pollinator Strategy and produced information for gar- deners 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, gar- dens, and retail, in order to help safeguard nature. The Plants for Bugs work (Fig.  11.6) showcases how scientific research and development, industry, gar- deners 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 govern- ment’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.