Lockdown highlights critical role of plants, Charles tells virtual Chelsea

The coronavirus lockdown has highlighted the “critical role” plants play in health and wellbeing, the Prince of Wales has said in a message for the virtual Chelsea Flower Show. Many people have reconnected with nature at home, gained a heightened appreciation of their local green spaces and discovered a new love of gardening and food production, Charles said. He said: “In recent weeks the coronavirus lockdown has highlighted the critical role plants play in our own health and wellbeing and quite a few of us will have had the opportunity to reconnect with nature at home. He pointed to the loss of millions of elm trees, the spread of ash dieback, increasing awareness of threats to oaks and xylella threatening herbaceous plants.