Garden industry champion tells MPs: Small businesses deliver for net zero and nature
Tuesday 20 May
Mike Burks, a Board Member of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Managing Director of the Gardens Group, was the keynote speaker to a group of parliamentarians at a Westminster dinner to mark the start of Chelsea week, highlighting the important role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets and enhance nature.
The event, hosted by the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) on Monday 19 May, was titled 'Small Businesses, Big Impact: Unlocking the Potential of SMEs for Net Zero and Nature'. Chaired by Toby Perkins MP, the Chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, the dinner brought together MPs, industry leaders from various sectors, and HTA representatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs in contributing to national environmental goals.
Mike Burks leads The Gardens Group, a horticultural business recognised as an HTA sustainability reference site and a leading example of eco-friendly practices. Operating three sites across Dorset and Somerset, The Gardens Group has made significant investments in sustainability. This includes installing solar panels, air source heat pumps, and biomass generators to reduce reliance on grid energy, alongside harvesting rainwater to minimise mains water use. They actively manage waste, collecting cardboard from local businesses for recycling and reuse, and collectively reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
The Gardens Group is committed to measuring and reducing its carbon footprint, continuously exploring innovative ways to reduce waste, expand recycled water capacity, and limit its environmental impact. The business actively encourages customers to adopt more wildlife-friendly and environmentally friendly gardening approaches. Future plans include increasing rainwater harvesting at all sites, moving away from gas-powered heating and integrating sustainability more deeply into their buying policy. Mike's personal dedication to environmental work in the garden industry was recognised last year when he was awarded the prestigious Pearson Memorial Medal for his outstanding contributions and leadership in the sector.
Mike Burks commented:
“I quite often hear people say that the scale of the environmental and sustainability challenge is so great that they don’t know where to start. But my belief is that no matter where we each start from, it’s important to take a first step so that collectively we can make a huge difference.
“Having the opportunity to take that message, the voice of horticulture, to the heart of Westminster and speak about how small businesses can support nature and the environment, was a privilege. The more parliamentarians and policymakers can understand environmental horticulture and the challenges, innovation, and importance of small businesses like mine, the better. I am looking forward to this being the start of conversations. As an HTA Board Member and proud champion of the horticulture industry, I hope more businesses will speak up and engage with MPS on the issues they face.”
The event provided a platform for policymakers to hear directly from the sector on how environmental horticulture SMEs are already contributing to environmental targets and the support needed to accelerate this impact across the UK. The HTA is a committed supporter of the work of the IPT, an independent, non-lobbying and non-partisan charity, supported by parliamentarians from both Houses of Parliament and business, aimed at educating those involved.
