The Grow Me Instead project has been a wonderful opportunity for the Nursery and Garden Industry to put our environmental credibility on show. It is a real feather in our cap to take this proactive stance on invasive plants; showing government and the community we care about the environment and are prepared to take positive action to reduce the impact of invasive plants.
Historically the invasive plant debate and overall ‘weed’ agenda have been viewed by industry as an imposition of sorts. Industry members complain bitterly when a local authority deems a certain plant as invasive, usually because little or no effort has been made to engage industry in the process. Grow Me Instead charts a new course on the invasive plant issue, placing the Nursery and Garden Industry at the forefront of the agenda. We are stating that not only do we accept responsibility for non-invasive plant sales but we are prepared to consult with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure credibility of the entire program.
