Flower price increase .
Roughly 80% of cut flowers in the UK are sourced from the Netherlands, according to the British Florist Association, and post-Brexit trade rules are making sellers nervous.
Starting today, all fresh European plant and animal products being imported to the UK must be checked directly for diseases at the British border. This includes milk, meat – and flowers.
Dutch flower and plant exporters expect days-long delays and believe that British consumers will soon have to pay more.
Under the initial post-Brexit regime, checks on perishables were permitted to be done close to delivery addresses at thousands of locations in the UK. But now, the many at-destination checkpoints are being replaced with a few centralised checkpoints at ports and airports.
For flowers and plants, this means that the inspection now takes place immediately when the cargo is taken off the ferry. And the prospect of fewer inspection points and more inspections are making the Dutch flower and plant sector nervous.
Leon Verschoor of Royal Lemkes from Bleiswijk has been one of the largest exporters to the UK for decades. He supplies palm plants, olive trees, cacti and orchids, among other things, to the larger chains of home furnishing retailers and DIY stores.
He said consumers in England have already seen a 5% price increase due to Brexit – and this will only increase.
"Now it will go up another 5 per cent, because all inspections are done in the Netherlands, and now, within 24 hours, the exact same inspection will be repeated in England”, he explained.
There are also concerns on the British side.
RBF Cargocare is the company responsible for customs clearance at the port of Felixstowe, which means providing transporters with the paperwork they need to carry their goods further into the country.
“From day one, as well as the additional charges, undoubtedly there will be delays,” said RBF director Jon Beech.
“You will not be able to buy everything you want when want it if you are buying plants and flowers."
Asked about the consequences for the price of plants and flowers, Beech is clear: “The price will unquestionably go up.
"https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/04/30/post-brexit-trade-laws-will-drive-imported-flower-prices-up-5-sellers-warn
Sir David Attenborough warns Brits not to mow lawns in May
Brits have been urged not to mow their lawns this month, Sir David Attenborough has said.
With hotter weather arriving as we move into May, many of us will be turning our attention to the garden, with the first job on many people’s minds being mowing the lawn.
However, a charity is calling on people to stop mowing their lawns this month so that wildlife can flourish.
Plantlife has launched its No Mow May campaign, as it tries to encourage people to create more welcoming habitats for wildlife in their gardens.
Speaking on his BBC Wild Isles show, he said: "Nowhere here is richer in wildflowers and insect pollinators than our traditional hay meadows. Sadly, in the last 60 years, we've lost 97% of this precious habitat.
"But with nature friendly farming, meadows can be restored to provide a haven for wildlife. It's all about the timing.
"Delaying mowing until mid-July allows birds and insects to complete their breeding and flowers to set their seed."
Plantlife said: “No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign calling all garden owners and green space managers not to mow during May – liberating your lawns and providing a space for nature.
“We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970’s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
“A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May.
“With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.
“This is why Plantlife is calling for people to get involved with #NoMowMay and let wild plants get a head start on the summer.”
Ian Dunn, the charity’s CEO, added: “The immaculate bright green bowling green lawn with its neat stripes may have historically been the desired garden aesthetic but, increasingly, we’re seeing a cultural shift which sees wilder lawns buzzing with bees and butterflies becoming highly valued.
”https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23494792.sir-david-attenborough-warns-brits-not-mow-lawns-may/