HTA responds to Environment Agency Drought Prospects Report

14 November 2025

Commenting on the Environment Agency’s Drought Prospects Report, warning that England faces widespread drought next year without a wet winter - Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: 

“The Environment Agency’s latest report reinforces the urgent need for the government to prioritise a water resilience strategy.  It is completely unacceptable that we are allowing valuable Autumn and Winter rain to, quite literally, pour down the drain at the same time as the Environment Agency warning that large parts of England could face drought again next Spring.

“Environmental Horticulture plays an essential role in tackling climate change, improving biodiversity and reducing flood risk.  However, our growers need a secure water supply to ensure we have the trees and plants vital to our green spaces.  The sector has already made significant progress in improving water efficiency, using just 0.2% of the UK's total water use, but during a drought, this can have a huge impact on our growing businesses. 

“The UK can’t keep going from flooding disasters to drought crisis. The government must urgently prioritise water storage and water resilience to ensure that we capture rainfall now for future use.  This will involve national infrastructure projects as well as supporting local storage solutions, such as on-site reservoirs in our members’ businesses.”