We are building the lists below, so do come back regularly to see the latest lists.
Arboriculture
Arboricultural Association
is the main professional body for arborists, running courses and an approved contractor scheme.
Forestry Commission
Home page
Forestry Commission Research and Resources
is a very useful list of Pests, Diseases and other problems currently topical and with the latest information.
Trees for Cities
We are the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. We get stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalizing forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.
Environment
Animal and Plant Health Agency
If you want to import, export or move plants more than 20 miles you need to read the details on this website and register if you want to do any of the above.
Biodiversity in Urban Gardens
A two part project by the University of Sheffield
Centre for Alternative Technology
is an eco-centre in Powys, mid-Wales, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclusively on alternative technology, but provides information on all aspects of sustainable living. It is open to visitors, offers postgraduate degrees as well as shorter residential and one day courses; and publishes information on renewable energy, sustainable architecture, organic farming, gardening, and sustainable living.
CL:AIRE
works with its Members to raise awareness and pursue shared objectives in land, water and environmental management by collecting strategic industry information and developing industry initiatives that improve efficiency and save money.
Community Forest Trust
Aims to secure more investment for community forestry, ensuring a green future for all. Currently, CFT is directly supporting The Mersey Forest in North Cheshire and Merseyside, City of Trees in Greater Manchester, White Rose Forest in the Leeds City Region and Heywoods in Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
Home page
Ecosystem Services
Home page
Environment Agency
This is a huge website, and you will need to refine your search within the site.
Green Flag Award
Raising the standard of Parks and Green Spaces in the UK and abroad
Green Spaces GiGL
Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC (GiGL) is the capital’s environmental records centre – we mobilise, curate and share data that underpin our knowledge of London’s natural environment. We enable our stakeholders to make informed decisions in policy and practice.
Groundwork
is a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. We’re passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances.
Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment
is the professional body for everyone working, studying or interested in environment and sustainability. We provide resources, tools, knowledge and research sharing to meet the real world needs
Land Contamination
Technical guidance on the management of contaminated land including how to investigate, assess and manage the risks.
Natural England
A link to their Home page
Open Spaces Society
Advice on habitat conservation and incident reporting
Permaculture Association
is a registered charity that promotes the theory and practice of permaculture in Britain and worldwide. Permaculture Association was founded in 1983 and is based at offices in Kirkstall, Leeds, England, but connects a diverse network of individuals and projects, with over 1,400 members and over 100 demonstration sites.There are regional networks: Permaculture Scotland and Paramaethu Cymru.
Plants For A Future
The main aims of the charity are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious ecosystem and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.
Open Spaces Society
The Open Spaces Society has been defending open spaces in England and Wales since 1865.
The Trust for Public Land
creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, liveable communities for generations to come.
Uk Urban Ecology Forums
a network of people, including ecologists, artists, managers, planners and researchers, involved with the environment and nature conservation in urban areas.
UK Air Pollution
from the Department for Rural Affairs.
General
British Apples and Pears
An apple a day - home of British apples and pears
British Tomato Growers' Association
British tomatoes are the best in the world
Commercial Horticultural Association
(CHA) is the UK Trade Association representing and supporting companies that manufacture and supply plants, products and services to commercial horticultural growers throughout the world.
Crop Science Centre
Sustainable for production for everyone
East Malling Research Station
They are a major organization in the UK for innovation and research on horticultural crops and plants and their interactions with the environment. Our research on perennial fruit crops is known internationally, and we are a significant source of pride regionally.
EPSO
This is an independent academic organisation that represents more than 200 research institutes, departments and universities from 31 countries in Europe and beyond. EPSO’s mission is to improve the impact and visibility of plant science in Europe. Learn more about EPSO and why plants matter.
Flowers and Plants Association
The Flowers & Plants Association was formed in 1984.
We are the UK's promotional organization for all commercially grown cut flowers and indoor plants.
Forest Research
(FR) is the research agency of the Forestry Commission (FC) and Great Britain’s principal organization for forestry and tree-related research. FR is internationally renowned for the provision of science, research, evidence, data and services in support of sustainable forestry.
Grow
Provides an online introduction to careers in horticulture
Horticultural Trade Association
This is the representative body for the garden industry, and is a useful source of information on work-based training in particular.
Horticulture Week
Hort Week is the only magazine covering the breadth of the UK horticulture industry. The monthly print magazine is supplemented by Daily briefings delivered via email to you daily throughout the working week. Carries the widest selection of job vacancies in the industry. Many of these jobs, and others, are listed on the website www.horticulturejobs.co.uk.
Institute of Horticulture
The Institute offers a range of career advice, including continuing professional development. .
Lindley Library
The RHS Lindley library in central London holds world-renowned collections of early printed books, the archives of the RHS, botanical art collections and modern books on the history of horticulture, botanical art and practical gardening
Lantra
Lantra is the Government's sector skills council for land-based industries, which includes horticulture. Among other things, it helps set and promote qualifications.
National Farmers Union
The NFU has a section on horticultural food production such as potatoes
Perennial
Originally called the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society is the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping people who work in horticulture when times get tough. A charitable organization helping disabled or retired gardeners for over 160 years. We provide free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in, or retired from, horticulture.
Royal Caledonian Society
The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society has a long and impressive history. Established in 1809 by a group of seventeen Edinburgh worthies for ‘the encouragement and improvement of the best fruit, the most choice flowers and the most useful culinary vegetables‘, the Society has continued to promote all aspects of Scottish horticulture. Current members of the Society, many of whom are experts in their field, share a common interest in gardening and horticulture.
Royal Forestry Society
For 140 years, the RFS has dedicated itself to sharing knowledge on the art and science of woodland management so that the accumulated wisdom and experience of landowners, foresters, arborists and others is transferred from one generation to another.
Royal Horticultural Society
The RHS is the main UK body promoting gardening and horticulture to the general public. It runs courses and school education activities, and manages four garden properties, including Wisley in Surrey, which showcase the best in British horticulture
Suffolk Rural College
The college is an English further education college in the village of Otley, Suffolk. The college was founded in 1970 as Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture. It merged with Ipswich-based Suffolk New College in 2020, having previously been partnered with Easton College in Norfolk
Scottish Crop Research Institute
More commonly known as SCRI was a scientific institute located in Invergowrie near Dundee, Scotland. As of April 2011, when SCRI merged with the Macaulay Land Use Institute, it is now part of The James Hutton Institute.
Thrive
Thrive is the leading charity in the UK using gardening to change the lives of disabled people. We help people who want to garden at home, on an allotment, in a community setting or who may to access our own structured horticultural therapy programmes, currently available in the South East. A research programme underpins Thrive’s work to provide evidence and improve understanding. Gardening can help individuals accomplish many things. It can help rebuild a person’s strength after an accident or illness, and can provide a purposeful activity for someone coping with a difficult period in their life.
Waterperry Gardens
They are a garden with a museum in the village of Waterperry near Wheatley east of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. Beatrix Havergal (1901–1980) established the Waterperry School of Horticulture, a school of horticulture for ladies, that existed there from 1932 until her retirement in 1971.
Worshipful Company of Gardeners
This is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. An organisation of Gardeners existed in the middle of the fourteenth century; it received a Royal Charter in 1605. The Company no longer exists as a regulatory authority for the sale of produce in London; instead serving as a charitable institution. The Company also performs a ceremonial role; it formally presents bouquets to the Queen and to Princesses upon their wedding, anniversary, or other similar occasion. The Gardeners' Company ranks sixty-sixth in the order of precedence for Livery Companies. Its motto is In The Sweat Of Thy Brows Shalt Thow Eate Thy Bread.
Groundsmanship
British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association
(BIGGA) is a separate organization for the golfing world. It also provides training and is a source of job vacancies.
Historic and Botanical
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
(BGCI) is an umbrella organisation for botanic gardens worldwide. Its website lists jobs in many parts of the world.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
is also a major employer of gardeners.
English Heritage
is a government agency that looks after more than 400 properties in England, many with important gardens or landscapes.
Garden History Society
Institute Of Groundsmanship (IoG)
is the main industry body for grounds managers. It provides extensive training. Has recently rebranded itself to Grounds Management Association
National Trust
The Trust is a major employer of professional gardeners. It runs the three-year Career ship scheme for trainee gardeners, as well as offering a wide range of volunteering opportunities in its properties.
National Trust for Scotland
is a separate charity looking after Scotland's heritage. It too runs a garden apprenticeship scheme, besides its highly respected specialist gardening course at Threave, Dumfries and Galloway.
Professional Gardeners' Guild
represents gardeners in public and private gardens. It runs a traineeship programme for experienced gardeners, and publishes a frequent Job sheet for members.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally significant botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 staff. Its board of trustees is chaired by Dame Amelia Fawcett.
The Old lawnmower Club
The Old Lawnmower Club was formed in 1990 to promote the collection, preservation and display of lawn mowers made from 1830 onwards. They have more than 500 members around the world. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in old lawn mowers. They participate in a number of events throughout the year at museums, garden shows, vintage rallies and steam fairs. You can find out more about what they do on this site.
Landscape
Landscape Institute
is the chartered body for landscape architects and designers.
British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)
Represents professional landscape contractors.
Parks
Green spaces
They are good, do good, and need to be protected for good. They are not pleasant, nice-to-haves to be taken for granted - they are the green hearts of our communities.
Royal Parks
manages many of London's best-known parks. It has its own apprenticeship programme, Grow in the Parks.
Your local council may also have a park's apprenticeship programme. If you don't know the name or contact details of your council, look on www.direct.gov.uk.
Retail
Ashwood Nurseries
They are a traditional plant nursery and garden centre in the West Midlands, situated in a canal-side setting in lovely open countryside. Ashwood’s speciality plants have won international acclaim, and award-winning hellebores are regarded as ‘simply the best’ strains ever produced. But the story doesn’t end there… our plant breeders and growers have worked the same magic on hepaticas, hardy cyclamen, hydrangeas, conifers, snowdrops, lewisias, salvias, and Primula auricula.
Bents
is a garden, home and leisure destination in North West England that attracts over a million visitors annually. Having been established in 1937 by Alfred and Margaret Bent, it remains a family owned and run business and has evolved into one of the UK’s most awarded garden centres, holding the Garden Centre Association award for Best Destination Garden Centre on six occasions
Blue Diamond Garden Centres
are the second-largest garden centre group in the UK and The Channel Islands.
Dobbies
has continued to expanded since its takeover by Tesco and subsequent sell out to venture capital company Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital
Klondyke,
The largest independent garden centre group which is concentrated in Scotland and the north of England.
Specialist Plant Groups
Alpine Garden Society With local branches and activities
Australasian Plants Society
British Cactus & Succulent Society
British Clematis Society
British Conifer Society
British Fuchsia Society
British Hosta & Hemerocallis Society
British Iris Society
British Lichen Society
British Mammillaria Society
British National Carnation Society, Currently no website listed 31/12/2022
British Pteridological Society
British Streptocarpus Society
Carnivorous Plant Society
Clematis on the web University of Hull
This site contains details of 3,230 varieties (1,400 of them illustrated), this is a fabulous resource from the University of Hull offers descriptions of these exuberant climbers. It also carries information about pruning, diseases and clematis gardens, though some may feel that 24 web pages on clematis devotees borders on the obsessive I feel it is brilliant.
Cottage Garden Society
Cyclamen Society
Daffodil Society
Delphinium Society
European Boxwood & Topiary Society
Fritillaria Group
Garden Organic
Formerly Henry Doubleday Research Association, Garden Organic promotes organic growing and composting, citizen science and research, and seed conservation through Heritage Seed Library. They want to help you garden 'the organic way', using natural methods to promote healthy, productive, sustainable gardens.
Hardy Orchid Society
Hardy Plant Society
Heather Society
Hebe Society
Herb Society
Historic Gardens Foundation
Historic Roses Group
International Euphorbia Society
Japanese Garden Society
Maple Society
Mediterranean Garden Society
Mediterranean Plants and Gardens
National Auricula & Primula Society
National Auricula & Primula Society
National Auricula & Primula Society
Southern Section
National Chrysanthemum Society
National Dahlia Society
National Sweet Pea Society
National Vegetable Society
Nerine & Amaryllid Society
Orchid Society of Great Britain
Pelargonium & Geranium Society
Plant Heritage
RHS Fruit Group
RHS Herb Group
RHS Lily Group
RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group
Rose Society UK
Royal National Rose Society
(Page currently reserved for future use)
Saxifrage Society
The widely publicised link to their website does not currently work, however the Society does have an active presence on Facebook using the link above
Scottish Rock Garden Club
This is the new page for the SRGC, there are many wrong links pointing to their old achieved website, however there is a link there to the new site
Sutton Bonsai Society
Thames Valley Orchid Society
was established to introduce and test the world’s temperate ferns for hardiness and ornamental value and to build comprehensive collections for public display, information and education.
Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society
Regional and Local Gardening and Horticultural Groups
Wolverhampton Horticultural Society
Gardening related Groups
There are 17 species of bat in the UK, all of which are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is working towards a world where bats and people live in harmony, to ensure they are around for future generations to enjoy.
The charity was established in 1983 and its key aims are to improve understanding and awareness of dragonflies, their conservation and the challenges they face, in order to increase action for dragonflies across Britain.
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Specialist Organizations and Bodies
Basis Registration
BASIS is an independent standards setting and auditing organization for the pesticide, fertilizer and allied industries. BASIS was established by the pesticide industry in 1978 to develop standards for the safe storage and transport of agricultural and horticultural pesticides and to provide a recognized means of assessing the competence of staff working in the sector.
CABI
Centre for Agricultural and Biosciences International
IEEM
The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management promotes the highest standards of practice for the benefit of nature and society
IEMA
Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, professional body with paid subscriptions
INNSA (Trade body for Invasive Species Experts)
The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) is the industry body for companies involved in controlling and eradicating invasive non-native species in the UK.
Landscape Institute
The Landscape Institute (LI) is the chartered body for the landscape profession. It is an educational charity that promotes the art and science of landscape practice. The LI’s aim, through the work of its members, is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit. The LI provides a professional home for all landscape practitioners including landscape scientists, landscape planners, landscape architects, landscape managers and urban designers.
LANTRA
Sector Skills Council for land based environmental industries provide expert training and qualifications for land-based industries. Finding the right course can sometimes be a bit of a minefield. But it doesn't have to be. We're your one-stop-shop. In fact, we're the only awarding organization who, through our network of approved Training Providers, can lead you from basic training right through to gaining a full qualification.
NNSS
Non-Native Species Specialists First published in 2008 and updated in 2015 the GB Invasive Non-native Species Strategy was developed to meet the challenge posed by invasive non-native species in Great Britain. This website provides tools and information for those working to support the strategy.
NPTC
City & Guilds Land Based Services We provide a wide range of land based qualifications. Our portfolio has a strong focus on short courses to deliver the specialist skills required for a certificate of Competence (CoC) qualification. Some of these qualifications are required for Licence to Practise activities or for membership of a CPD register.
PCA (Property Care Association)
This section of the PCA site provides consumers with a means of identifying specialist contractors and consultants who can undertake invasive weed control services which can help control and eradicate Japanese knot weed and other invasive plant species.
RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects A paid site where those paid up members can access valuable information, there is also a retired subscription rate.
RICS
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors RICS delivers confidence through respected global standards, adopted and enforced by over 134,000 qualified and trainee professionals across the built and natural environment.
SEPA
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency As a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, our role is to make sure that the environment and human health are protected, to ensure that Scotland’s natural resources and services are used as sustainably as possible and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
