National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health (NCEH)
Published 18 June 2026
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The National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health (NCEH) is jointly run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). It undertakes research to help mitigate existing and emerging threats to our green spaces to help protect the UK’s 23 million gardens and its horticultural trade.
The Centre is operated by staff based at APHA and RHS sites across the country. It engages with industry to identify areas of focus according to potential impact before researching solutions and management practices and then sharing findings.
Key milestones
The launch of the National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health (NCEH) was announced during National Plant Health Week.
Workshops
The National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health held its first industry facing workshop at RHS Wisley on 15 June 2026. The workshop brought together stakeholders from across the sector to explore the key environmental challenges facing horticulture, identify priority risks, and discuss where effort and collaboration should be focused.
Funding
The Centre is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Plant biosecurity strategy
The Centre aligns with the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain (2023–2028) and supports the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth through investment in innovation and technology.
Contact us
For enquiries about the National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health: nceh@apha.gov.uk.