11 to 17 May is National Plant Health Week, an annual designated week of action to raise public awareness and engagement on how to keep our plants healthy.
It is a collaborative effort by over 30 organisations across the UK who are committed to protect the health of our nation’s plants and trees and this year it celebrates the importance of being a good plant health citizen.
Easy ways to support plant and tree health
- Look out for signs of pests and diseases on your local trees. Report these through TreeAlert. This information supports important tree health monitoring and surveillance work, contributes to ongoing scientific research, and helps to protect the nation’s trees
- ‘Don’t risk it!’ Don’t bring plant material (plants, trees, fruit and seeds) into the UK from trips abroad. These might be carrying harmful pests and diseases
- Buy your plants and trees from reputable nurseries and suppliers. If you are buying plants online, buy from a UK-based supplier where possible, to reduce the risk of harmful pests and diseases entering the country. Check out the YouTube Video: ‘Buying Responsibly with Pippa Greenwood.’
- Keep it clean. Clean your boots, bikes and buggies before visiting woodlands and parks, otherwise you could spread harmful organisms like fungi, bacteria and insects.
Activities for National Plant Health Week 2026
Forestry Commission
Tuesday 6 May 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM BST:
Live Tree Health Clinic Q&A, with a panel including biosecurity officers, and invited guests from FR and Kew to answer questions and will be hosted on the new FC Facebook channel.
RHS activity
RHS Garden Wisley : What’s on RHS
What’s on in RHS Science & Collections / RHS
Join our plant-health-themed Hilltop Live talks, taking place twice daily during the week, including two allotment-themed panel discussions with Q&A
Plant Health walks, visiting the allotments as a location for discussion on plant health issues. Bookable through the RHS What’s on at Hilltop webpage. If visitors to the walks have any other questions after the walks, they can attend the Hilltop Live panel discussion, immediately after.
