decorative grower in the UK have lost well-nigh 60 % of sales due to stock loss on mean as a termination of the coronavirus lockdown and market closing force them to dispose of their crop , a new survey shows .
The survey , co - ordinated by the NFU , HTA and AHDB , also shows that the loss of sales due to stock disposal are high for thinned flower ( 86 % ) and bedding plant ( 67 % ) .
Concerns that cultivator are not prepared to take on further debt were reinforced by the results , which show that 68 % of respondent had not applied for a CBILS loanword and are not plan to , in part because taking on the loanword was unviable for the business .
A third of concern were unsure if their business would make it this year and 6 % answer that they anticipate get to close by the destruction of the year .
HTA Chairman James Barnes said : “ The losings digest by the cosmetic horticulture industry during the coronavirus pandemic are more extreme than in virtually any other sector , due to the seasonality and perishableness of ornamental plant stock certificate . These latest survey results show that garden centre reopenings have had a positive short - terminus impact on industry sales , but the long - term time to come for many business is still far from certain .
“ Our industry is of huge strategical grandness because it underwrites many next authorities policy end around the 25 Year Environment Plan and wider ambitiousness on mood variety and biosecurity . It is also a sincerely internal industry – with decorative growers contributing to the economy and proletariat grocery store in almost 60 % of parliamentary constituency across the UK . We ’re go on to engage directly with political science and MPs on options for further financial livelihood for growers and safeguard the future of this life-sustaining manufacture . "
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chair Ali Capper enunciate : “ While the post has meliorate as a result of reopening garden centres , there are still important wallop on growers , many of whom are uncertain of their survival . For cut flower growers , florists remain unopen and with key seasonal result such as wedding ceremony cancelled or postponed demand for cut flower has dropped .
“ For many businesses , the absolute majority of their stock has perished and been scrapped , resulting in loss of income and the loss of the fiscal investment in that stock . cultivator finger unable to replace that asset with debt via CBILS loans .
“ This Modern data show that the bulk of decorative patronage are badly affect by the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 , many of which are long standing crime syndicate businesses .
“ A contraction of the decorative supply base will have a wider impact on the UK thriftiness and fellowship ; progress to the UK more dependent on imports , reducing our self - sufficiency and increasing the biosecurity risk of import pests and diseases . This risk becomes particularly penetrative when you reckon the bread and butter being given elsewhere , include Northern Ireland , the Netherlands and Belgium .
“ We are continuing to engage with the government to see how existing fiscal assistance scheme can be made more accessible for growers and also what other support measures are needed . This datum is a worthful evidence base to show on the nose the encroachment on businesses across the land . ”
For more informationHorticultural Trades AssociationHorticulture House19 High StreetThealeReadingWest BerkshireRG7 5AHT : +44 ( 0)118 930 3132Fax : +44 ( 0)118 932 3453NGGV : +44 ( 0)118 930 2092www.the-hta.org.uk
