Harrogate district business says Brexit has cost it £210,000

A Harrogate district horticultural business has estimated that Brexit-related bureaucracy cost it £210,000 last year.

Johnsons of Whixley, which sells over 5 million plants per year, said in a press release yesterday that the “bureaucratic burden” of Brexit had reduced revenue, increased cost and slowed its supply chain.

Britain left the EU at the end of January last year.

Johnsons said the company brought in 462 loads from the EU in 2021, which cost the company £210,000 more than it did in 2020 due to Brexit.

Of those costs, £150,000 was spent on EU plant health.

Jonathan Whittemore, head of production and procurement, said:

“This is money Johnsons is spending in the EU, with EU companies and authorities, on inspections and phytosanitary certificates.

“The EU phytosanitary certificate is a perfect example of the costly bureaucracy that doesn’t achieve its aim.”

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Whittemore explained that although the certificate was required to bring plants into the country from the EU, it is not given any authority by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). This leads to situations where plants are repeatedly delayed for duplicated checks and tests. He added:

“A robust stance is critical in disease control matters, and UK horticulture should be pleased that this is the approach APHA is taking. But if we are not going to put any credence on the inspections and testing done in the EU then let’s not ask for it to be done, and let’s not pay for it.”

Johnsons, which was established in 1921, has supplied plants for various high profile projects, including Studley Royal Water Garden, the Forth Road Bridge, the National Arboretum Centre and the athletes’ village at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Horticap students ‘absolutely gutted’ at new lockdown

The new lockdown has delivered a fresh blow to Horticap’s dedicated team of students, who have been unable to work at the popular garden centre on Otley Road since March.

The charity was established 37 years ago to offer adults with learning difficulties the chance to learn practical, personal and teamwork skills through gardening.

However, because many of their students have underlying health conditions, it’s been decided that it would be safer for them to stay at home until the pandemic ends. Now, the charity’s leaders fear the latest lockdown will have an even greater impact on mental health.

Phillip Airey, operations manager at Horticap, told the Stray Ferret:

“They are getting so down with it all really, as they are usually so active here. They want to be working. They are absolutely gutted and they keep asking us why they can’t come back.

“They do understand there’s a virus but it’s been really, really difficult for their mental health. When they are here, it’s great for them. As soon as we can get them back the better, really, for their own wellbeing.”

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With Christmas approaching, the students would be normally be helping prepare for one of Horticap’s busiest times of year, making holly wreaths and helping out in the new shop. Phillip said the staff are just about managing to keep the place ticking over until they come back, as normally, “the students basically do everything”.

There have been dissenting voices on social media who have questioned why garden centres have been allowed to stay open, whereas other sectors have not. But Phillip said gardening has been crucial to people in Harrogate during this difficult year.

He added:

“Gardening is therapeutic. It’s the best thing you can do. We all believe that. We use horticulture as a therapeutic aid for our students. It does them, and me, no end of good.

“The customers get so much out of gardening, especially knowing that our students have grown the plants.”