Green fingers? They might save the planet, says RHS

WHeN it comes to rest and relaxation, gardening is often praised as the perfect hobby.

But the benefits of green fingers may far outgrow the allotment – as they could even stop global warming, the Royal Horticultural Society has said.

Just as gardeners were urged to Dig for Victory to help defeat the Nazis, the charity is launching a major campaign to prevent climate disaster.

Calling on the uK’s 30million gardeners, the RHS said that small actions in the garden could help cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost wildlife.

According to the charity’s research, if every gardener in the country planted a medium-sized tree, this would save the carbon equivalent of driving around the planet 11million times.

And if everyone made around 190kg (419lb) of compost a year, this would store the equivalent of heating half a million homes.

Other eco-friendly actions include using a water butt, switching from peat compost and growing flowers to help bees.

eating home-grown crops, switching from fossil fuels to electric machinery, and pulling up pavement slabs – which would allow exposed earth to grow plants – would also help the fight against climate change.

Professor Alistair Griffiths, of the RHS, said: ‘Collectively, the actions of each and every one of our nation’s 30million gardeners can create positive change and help us adapt to and mitigate against the climate crisis...

‘it is something we can all do – either on a window sill, in our own gardens or with a community gardening group.’

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said that the charity was ‘committed’ to help fight the crisis. However, she called on the Government to provide more funding for research and community gardens, warning: ‘We can’t harness this potential alone.’