Landscape Insight April 2018 | Page 16

MONTH IN REVIEW In my short tenure with the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), it has been both a privilege and a pleasure to have witnessed the enthusiasm of the HTA teams.’’ Chris Pateman, former chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association EDUCATION CHARITY SQUIRE’S HOSTS ‘PLANTATHON’ TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY Squire’s Garden Centres took part in a 12-hour ‘plantathon’ on Friday 16 March 2018 to raise money for Greenfingers, a charity who creates gardens for children in hospices. A team from Squire’s planted up spring pots at their newly opened garden centre in Woking, and celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock participated at the event helping to raise money for the charity. Sarah Squire, deputy chairman, said: “The Plantathon was a really fun day. It started early at 7am and our team worked until 7pm planting up beautiful pots, each containing Narcissi in the centre and four colourful Polyanthus around the outside. “All proceeds will be donated to Greenfingers, which will help them create amazing gardens at children’s hospices throughout the country.” 90,000 thats how many visitors the Northumberlandia Country Park attracts a year 16 Landscape Insight | April 2018 EMMA MCFARLINE RECEIVES FLORANOVA SCHOLARSHIP Horticultural student Emma McFarline has received the 2018 Floranova Scholarship, awarded by the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF). McFarline, from Omagh in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is currently studying for a foundation degree in horticulture at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). She said she is keen to pursue a career in a research based role within the ornamental production sector. Commenting on her award, McFarline said: “I’m extremely grateful to Floranova for choosing me for their scholarship award, and to the DCF for their continued support. Their generosity will help me to pay for my course fees but will also provide me with an amazing opportunity to work at Floranova and learn more about plant breeding, which I find completely fascinating. Thank you so much.” Mark Leivers, production director at Floranova, said: “Emma exhibited a passion for horticulture, and her desire is to work in crop research and development. The industry needs more young people with her horticultural interest, energy and personality.” REOPENING GARDMAN REOPENS KING’S LYNN SITE, RE- EMPLOYS EX-STAFF IN THE AFTERMATH OF DAVENTRY FIRE Gardman has announced that it is to reopen its King’s Lynn site and re-employ some of its ex-staff in the aftermath of the Daventry fire In a statement Gardman said following the fire at its distribution centre on 12 March the company had evaluated several different options, but quickly made the decision to reactivate the site at King’s Lynn. The statement read: “We’re very pleased that more than 25 previous Gardman employees are returning to join our team of over 50 staff at King’s Lynn. Their years of expertise will really help us get the operation up and running quickly. “We have already diverted stock from UK ports and the stock arriving from overseas to King’s Lynn. We have also received the first delivery of Wild Bird Care from our UK supplier. “Customers should expect Gardman sales representatives to make contact early w/c 26th March to advise them on stock availability and ordering. Customers can also download an order form from the trade section of our website.” “In the meantime, we continue to liaise with Northamptonshire Police and the other emergency services and remain thankful that there were no injuries.”