Daffodils are ‘destined for the compost heap’
CELEBRATING St David’s Day with the national flower of Wales is likelier to be trickier this year.
Welsh growers and garden retailers say vast quantities of daffodils are destined for a “giant compost heap” this spring because their usual routes to market are closed during the Covid19 lockdown.
The same fate may also await other spring flowers such as polyanthus and primroses which are popular as Mothers Day gifts.
Ornamental horticulture businesses in Wales say they are getting “desperate”, having been unable to trade since curbs on non-essential retail were put in place on December 20.
If garden centres and florists remain closed, sales of potted daffodils are likely to be decimated this spring, according to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA).
It said growers “need a miracle, like that said to have been performed by their national saint, if they are to weather the storm”.
One grower-retailer, Morris of Usk, faces writing off £20,000 worth of springtime favourites, having already lost its autumn crop of violas and pansies during November’s firebreak lockdown.
“We fully understand the need to protect public health,” said Nicola Pugh, HTA Council representative for Wales, and owner of Pugh’s Garden Centre in Cardiff.
“We support the government in its determination to fight the spread of Covid.
“But horticultural businesses are being pushed to the brink at what should be our busiest time of year.”
The HTA spoke out ahead of a review of lockdown restrictions by the Welsh Government this week.
It is hoping for concessions in view of the industry’s seasonal supply chain – and its contribution to people’s health and wellbeing.
Ms Pugh called on ministers to provide some certainty to the sector.
“If we are to meet the demand when reopening is possible, we need a timeline to help us manage the supply chain of perishable and seasonal crops,” she said.
Despite initial confusion over cut flowers, and whether these should be classified as non-essential items, they are being sold by supermarkets in Wales during lockdown, which should ensure supplies of St David’s Day buttonholes.
However, florists are shut, relying instead on deliveries and collections to stay afloat.
Cut flower sales are set to be hit by an increase in the price of flowers post-Brexit, with the Fresh Produce Consortium estimating the new customs rules and tariffs will add £100m to the cost of importing cut flowers into the country.
However all daffodils sold in the UK are grown here – so growers have seen no need to rein in production.
Ceredigion-based Farmyard Nurseries,
Llandysul, is also using click and collect to keep some money coming in.
Owner Rich Bramley said it is not a long-term solution.
“Click and collect and mail order are helping businesses like ours, but these processes are incredibly labour intensive and they don’t allow us to offer quite the same service to our customers. Our nursery grows plants that supply our garden centre. Without the ability to sell that stock in big enough quantities – quantities that just aren’t possible via mail order or click and collect – we will be looking at very challenging times from March if we’re not open again.”
The HTA is calling on ministers to consider the re-opening of garden centres in Wales, a sector worth £177m-a-year to the county.
This week the Welsh Government is due to publish an update roadmap for exiting lockdown.
However, the administration’s next review of current restrictions is not until February 26, giving little wriggle room for a March 1 re-opening.
HTA chairman James Barnes said the sector’s future hung in the balance.
“The Welsh garden retail sector represents hundreds of businesses, employing thousands of people,” he said.
“These jobs and these livelihoods are placed at increasing risk with every day that trade is rendered impossible by lockdown restrictions.
“We need a timeline for re-opening to help the industry plan how to survive and to safeguard a sector that facilitates the wellbeing of the health and wealth of the nation.”