HTA MSP Template Letter Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections - February 2026
A template letter to edit and write to your local candidates ahead of the Holyrood Elections on 7 May 2026.
Scotland
HTA Scottish Environmental Horticulture Manifesto
The HTA manifesto builds on the HTA’s engagement with the Scottish Government and stakeholders across the sector. It provides a constructive blueprint for how environmental horticulture can help Scotland meet its ambitions on wellbeing, sustainability and economic growth.
Key asks:
- Recognise the value of gardens and green spaces by developing a Horticulture Strategy.
- Establish an Environmental Horticulture and Green Spaces Group to enhance cross-departmental working.
- Ringfence funds for green spaces to protect against shortfalls or budget cuts in project delivery.
- Continue to raise the profile of social therapeutic horticulture by launching a health and wellbeing campaign.
- Deliver a business rates system that does not undermine competitiveness across the four nations, ensuring no Scottish business pays more than their counterparts south of the border.
- Implement consistent kerbside collections across all Local Authorities in Scotland which includes recyclable non-black polypropylene plastic plant pots.
- Work with the sector to improve financial support for environmental horticulture businesses.
- Include environmental horticulture in the green jobs and sustainable skills definitions.
- Introduce a Statutory Requirement to ‘Grow Plants’ into the Curriculum.
- Unlock barriers and deliver consistency in planning applications for environmental horticulture businesses.
- Develop an action plan for ornamental and productive plant and tree production to support UK-based plant production.
Related Resources
Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament
The HTA acts as the secretariat for the Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group (CPG) in Holyrood. The CPG brings together organisations, politicians from across the political spectrum, and policymakers who share a common goal: to promote the growth of Scottish horticulture. We will seek to reconstitute the CPG following the election. If you would like any more information, please contact [email protected]