Sir David Attenborough at 100 - The HTA pays tribute to a garden biodiversity champion
8 May 2026
In celebration of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday on Friday, 8 May 2026, the Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has paid tribute to his life and work.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said:
“There is no greater champion or advocate for nature, biodiversity and the importance of green spaces than Sir David Attenborough. His latest series, Secret Garden, highlights the nature and environmental benefits that happen right on our doorsteps – in our gardens.
“Green spaces need these champions to speak out for them, as they are increasingly under threat or taken for granted. As Sir David said, domestic gardens are ‘magical places’ that can be almost as diverse as a tropical rainforest.
“I know I speak for all our members – garden centres, growers, landscapers, garden designers and manufacturers – in giving huge appreciation for Sir David’s recent work, which underlines the role our gardens play in nature recovery and biodiversity alongside his lifelong aims of encouraging us all to safeguard and appreciate delicate and vital flora and fauna at home and abroad.
“When it comes to enjoying our green spaces, it’s worth remembering his words… Across the British Isles, there are magical places: our pride and joy, our gardens.
“Happy Birthday, Sir David Attenborough, and thank you.”
The Value of Gardens
- The UK’s 22 million private gardens make significant economic, environmental and social contributions to health, wellbeing, biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
- Trees can cool concrete surfaces by 12°C, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect.
- Trees have been found to reduce surface water runoff by 80% as compared to an asphalt surface.
- Lawns are incredibly effective at slowing water runoff, absorbing 99% of rainfall and reducing flood risk.
- Green spaces actively remove air pollution; in just seven days, a one-metre dense hedge can absorb the same amount of pollution that a car emits over a 500-mile drive.
- Gardens, and the plants within them, provide valuable habitats for the nation’s fauna and flora.
- Garden size has been found to explain 30% of the variation in species richness within individual gardens. Doubling garden size can increase richness by 25%.
