The Scottish Parliament ’s Gardening and Horticulture Cross - Party Group , which brings together industry professionals and Members of the Scottish Parliament ( MSPs ) , hosted Rural Affairs Minister Jim Fairlie MSP on Wednesday evening for a discussion on the sphere ’s opportunities and challenges .
Also attending the session were Cross - Party Group Convener and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Rachael Hamilton MSP , Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Tim Eagle MSP , and Deputy Presiding Officer Annabelle Ewing MSP . The Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) serves as the grouping ’s Secretariat .
Minister Fairlie expressed the Scottish Government ’s perceptiveness for the horticultural sector ’s contributions , noting the character gardening can represent in supporting genial wellness and recuperation . Responding to business organization about funding for therapeutic gardens , he plight to pass on out to the Health Secretary on behalf of the mathematical group to urge for increased support . The Minister also fielded questions on the devolved issue of peat and invite the group to provide feedback on what practical funding could depend like .
The meeting have presentations from the University of Aberdeen on their school garden task , David Lydiat from the HTA on horticulture sector statistics in Scotland , and a tribute by Stan Green of Growforth to the former Jim McColl , regarded as the " Grandfather of Scottish Horticulture , " who had been lay to rest earlier that day .
prof from the University of Aberdeen urged a renewed focusing on out-of-door encyclopaedism in shoal , calling for resources that enable schools to show and maintain garden for students . They advocated for gardening to be integrated into the program across subject and emphasized the pauperization for teachers to have admission to garden - establish erudition programs .
Rachael Hamilton MSP , commented : " It was a perquisite to convene the Gardening and Horticulture Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament last dark . We heard from Professors from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh about the importance of incorporating outdoor education into the curriculum through schoolhouse garden and the benefits that this can have for young masses in Scotland . I look forward to working with the industry to advocate for greater recognition of the benefit the sector can supply at next CPG group meeting . "
For more information : Horticultural Trades Associationwww.hta.org.uk
