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Prince Charles tells gardeners to quiz nurseries on where their plants come from to halt spread of killer pests

The Prince of Wales will appear on BBC Gardeners' World on Wednesday - PA
The Prince of Wales will appear on BBC Gardeners' World on Wednesday - PA

The Prince of Wales has urged amateur gardeners to interrogate their local nurseries about where their plants come from, in a bid to halt the spread of killer disease.

The Prince, a keen gardener, advised members of the public working on their own gardens to quiz their plant suppliers on whether they have a "biosecurity policy" to help prevent the spread of pests.

In an appearance on Gardeners' World, he said such threats to British flora and fauna must be taken "really seriously", as warmer weather led them to flourish.

The Prince will appear on the BBC show on Wednesday, interviewed in his gardens at Highgrove and sharing his own expertise.

In a conversation with presenter Adam Frost, he will ask gardeners to "do their bit" to protect trees, and share his own devastating experience with Dutch Elm Disease, Ash Dieback and Phytophthora Ramorum.

Asked for his advice, the Prince said: "Talk to the nurseries where you're getting your plants from and ask them: where do they come from?

Prince of Wales visits Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew
Prince of Wales visits Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew

"Have they been properly checked or quarantined? Have you got a biosecurity policy, because of the risks now we're facing of all these pests and diseases.

"And with climate change adding to these huge challenges and because of the warming up of everything, more and more of these pests and diseases can flourish here when they couldn't have done before.

"So we have to take this really seriously."

Gardeners' World is the latest in a string of appearances by the Prince on specialist programmes about the natural world.

He has previously been interviewed on Countryfile, edited Country Life magazine, and been heard on Gardeners' Question Time. 

This time, he will focus particularly on the steps he has taken within the Duchy of Cornwall, which covers 53,000 hectares of land across 23 British counties, to avoid the spread of plant diseases and pests.

Prince Charles's 70th birthday party pictures: Duke and Duchess of Sussex among the guests
Prince Charles's 70th birthday party pictures: Duke and Duchess of Sussex among the guests

Adam Frost, Gardeners World presenter, will tell viewers: “Back in February I was invited to a meeting at Highgrove with members from across the horticultural industry to discuss the problem of pests and diseases and what could be done about them. 

"One of the outcomes was Action Oak - a campaign launched at the Chelsea Flower show to help protect our iconic oak. It is made up of charities, environmental organisations and land owners who are using their combined knowledge to safeguard the beautiful trees.

"Today The Prince has invited me back to Highgrove to explain why we as gardeners also need to do our bit.”

The special Gardeners’ World episode will be broadcast on Wednesday, July 18 at 8pm on BBC Two.