Spotlight shines on horticulture

Alan Down, HTAPresident

Inspiteofanexceptionally drymonth, February turned out better than expected for the garden trade.

However, at the time of writing,thereare some real concerns that garden centrestocks arelow and that, if warm weather arrives suddenly,then growers and suppliers may find restocking to meet demand achallenge.

Significant plant losses havebeen also reportedthroughout the south of England in gardens and on planteria with hydrangea, pittosporum and hebe particularly badly affected. Ican personally vouch for that with some plants in my garden severely damaged by the cold at the end of last year.This was preceded by aspell of very warm weather and plants were not sufficiently ‘hardened off’ for such lowtemperatures.

The landscape sector still appears to be forging ahead although Ihear theremay be some signs of fewernew leads. Letushope that is only ablip.Bythe time youhaveread this, I’msureIwill knowmoreas, for the first time, Iwill haveattended the Association of Professional Landscape Awards Ceremony.The of trade will no doubt be one of the topics at the bar which I’mtold (warned!) can be averylively,but I’malso looking forward to seeing breath-taking demonstrations of top-quality garden design and build.

Our team at the HTAcontinues to engage with government at the highest level. IThis month our Chairman James Barnes, along with the RHS and the NFU,met with the House of LordsHorticultural Sector Committee to submit evidencesuch as the value of the sector,its challenges, extent and quality of government supportand opportunities and risks of post-Brexit trade. We were also delighted when severalmembers of this newcommittee visited our Garden PressEvent in February. Surprisingly no similar governmental committee has looked in such depth at our industrybefore and we arehopeful the spotlight on our sector will bring positivebenefitsinthe future. They spent time visiting and talking to some of the exhibitors to discover, first hand, the most important challenges and opportunities facing our sectors and in the future. The event, held jointly with the GIMA, wasagain extremely well attended. With over400 members of the pressinattendancethere wasareal buzzabout it. If youhaveanew product, plant, serviceor amessage youwant to get acrosstoyour customers then this is the event to be at. Next year’s Garden PressEvent is already booked for BusinessDesign CentreinIslington so get 20 Februaryinyour diary.

The HTAevents team is nowfocussed on plans for the HTANational Plant Showwhich is, of course, held at Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwickshireon2021 June. Ihope to see many of youthere.

I’ve signed up for Perennial’sCharity Firewalk in the autumn. Am Imad? Well maybe alittle but Ihavedone it before. Perennial tells me it is receiving an increased demand for supportfromour colleagues in the garden industrysowe need to rally round. Given the choiceofrunning amarathon or walk on hot coals it’sano-brainer for me. Idon’thave the time for all that training to run. I’ve found that friends would rather sponsor than volunteer themselves to firewalk. I’mhoping youmight consider sponsoring me too!

Although all our sectors areconcerned about the current economic climateand consumer confidencebeing at an alltime low, Idodetect an air of quiet confidence. Given fair weather,spring of 2023 might turn out to be agood one.

Haveagreat spring

TheHorticultural Trades Association is the UK industry’sleading membership organisation and welcomes all sectorsofenvironmental horticulture. To learn moreorjoinpleasevisit:www.hta.org.uk or email: services@hta.org.uk