September Meeting - ‘The Role of the Plant Quarantine Service’ with Andrew Gaunt
Wednesday 16 September 2026
19:30 to 21:30
Image Credit: Animal and Plant Health Agency Facebook
Andrew is a member of APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) in DEFRA.
Andrew has now been an inspector for over 25 years and is based in Chichester. This year he became the first Plant Health and Seeds Inspector awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal (VMM); an international honour presented annually by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of horticultural science and practice.
His talk will look at the role and work of DEFRA’s Plant Quarantine service in protecting the food supply chain, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and the environment from alien pests and diseases.
The talk highlights the threats to the UK natural world from the insects and diseases brought in from outside the UK and the repercussions for our plants, trees and wildlife.
There will also be time for refreshments, socialising and the raffle.