Collectively, UK gardens cover an area 20% the size of Wales, and hence play a pivotal role in achieving net biodiversity gain, contributing to improved health and well-being, facilitating climate change mitigation efforts, and drive to achieving net zero.
Quantifying the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the UK’s 22 million gardens, the 2025 ‘Value of Plants’ report, shifts the focus to domestic gardens, which the HTA describe as a “national treasure hiding in plain sight”.
The environmental horticulture industry, which supports gardens from “dahlias to decking,” contributes a significant £38 billion to the UK economy and employs 722,000 people. According to HTA research, for every additional square metre of garden space, an extra £2.01 is spent annually on plants and products.
Considering, the government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million homes by 2030 could unlock substantial economic growth alongside environmental and social benefits. Should gardens be prioritised and an average of 200 square metres of garden per new home be allocated, HTA modelling shows that this could generate £65 billion in additional spend on garden retail over a 100-year lifetime of the gardens; whilst delivering the climate resilience and health benefits.
However, current trends towards building homes with smaller gardens, alongside the paving over of existing green space within private gardens, pose a significant threat to these potential benefits. The HTA is therefore urging policymakers to prioritise the provision of substantial domestic garden and green space in new housing developments and urban infrastructure.
Nation of gardeners
According to the new report, 77% of adults in the UK three-quarters of adults have their own private gardens
and 30 million people regularly enjoying gardening as a pastime or hobby – across all age and income brackets. Gardens are used for a variety of purposes, from growing vegetables (33%), supporting wildlife (50%), to entertaining family or friends (40%).
The 2025 report outlines key research findings in relation to climate change, including the fact that in urban areas, trees can cool concrete surfaces by 12°C, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect. Lawns are incredibly effective at slowing water runoff, absorbing 99% of rainfall and reducing flood risk. Furthermore, green spaces actively remove air pollution; a one-metre dense hedge is capable of absorbing the pollution of a car travelling 500 miles in just seven days. They are also crucial habitats for biodiversity, with diverse features that support a wide range of fauna and flora.
The report also reaffirms the profound impact gardens have on health. Eight in ten UK adults agree that gardens benefit their physical health, and 85% report benefits to their mental state. Gardening is a socially inclusive pastime enjoyed by 30 million people, helping to burn calories and reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Moreover, it offers significant cognitive benefits, with daily gardening linked to a 36% lower risk of dementia in older adults.
Speaking at the HTA’s Annual Conference, Fran Barnes, HTA Chief Executive, said:
“I believe the UK stands at a crossroads, with a huge opportunity to secure health and environmental benefits for generations to come. The government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes presents an opportunity to deliver gardens that ensure that the families who occupy this housing enjoy improved health and social outcomes in the coming decades. Moreover, the green spaces these 1.5m gardens are set to create will play a substantial role in mitigating the effects of climate change, particularly in our towns and cities.
“I’m reminded in this report of Ebeneezer Howard, founder of the garden cities movement over a century ago, and his vision of reconnecting people with nature. His influence on town planning and the lives of millions has been profound and lasting, visible today in so many of the gardens and green spaces in our communities.
“Now’s the time for us to work together as an industry and society to renew this vision and ambition, to seize the opportunity to create gardens fit for the 21st century, and to ensure that the UK’s gardens continue to be the envy of the world.”
