Human Shrub goes “Gorilla Gardening” at Conservative Party Conference

The Greening the UK campaign, with the help of the Human Shrub (the Banksy of the gardening world) and a gorilla, will highlight the decline in planting and green spaces in new developments around the country with a spot of gardening in Manchester on Wednesday 7 October.

Time: 06.00 – 08.30
Photo call: 07.30 – the Human Shrub and his helpers will be planting up the containers
Date: Wednesday 7 October
Place: In front of Manchester Town Hall, 2 Albert Square, Manchester M60 2JT

A number of shadow cabinet members, local councillors and local gardening groups have been invited to help out and will be asked to show their support for preserving and enhancing urban green spaces.

The Human Shrub said: “In the current climate, and in particular given the plight of the bees, it is utterly disgraceful that there has been up to a 50% decline in the amount of planting and green spaces actually delivered on new builds over the last decade. We need a radical approach to planting and all of the political humans need to unite and start implementing policies on this immediately.”

The event will promote Greening the UK’s new report Greener Planning, Greener UK, produced in association with PlantforLife, that outlines how planting and green space can be used to achieve the economic, social and environmental targets that urban local authorities face.

The Human Shrub, a green planting campaigner from Essex, has already spent much time and energy drawing attention to the need for more planting in the public domain in his native Colchester. He has also started a campaign to save the Blue Peter Garden.

Outside Manchester Town Hall, the Human Shrub and the gorillas will plant up an array of planters to green up the square. Campaigners from Greening the UK will be available to comment.