The HDC and HTA are pleased to announce a joint technical event at this year’s National Plant Show. A programme of technical events has been developed to compliment the first day of the HTA Plant Show this year. The programme, which is a combination of BOPP, GrowSave and HDC events, has been designed to coincide with the show to provide a technical training element to the popular plant-based trade show. The event will take place at the Stoneleigh Seminar Rooms, which are opposite the exhibition hall at Stoneleigh Park, and the National Bedding Plant Centre at Baginton Nurseries on Tuesday 23rd June 2015.
The event is a result of the HTA and HDC working together on the BOPP Management Committee. The BOPP committee have decided to offer a technical seminar at the Plant Show instead of holding a separate event in September, to reduce travelling and time away from their businesses for the BOPP members. The programme begins at 13.00 with the BOPP annual review, HTA policy update and summary of the projects, which will define responsibly, sourced growing media. There will be an opportunity for members to raise questions about the standards and scheme’s operations, as well as the Management Committee re-election.
Tim Pratt and Simon Pearson will deliver the second session of the afternoon as part of the GrowSave project. The drive to reduce energy costs can lead to higher relative humidity in the growing environment. This in turn can lead to ‘soft’ plant growth, induced nutrient deficiencies and promote the development of fungal diseases. Attendees to this seminar will hear how to balance these demands and the potentially game-changing impact of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) that can deliver very low cost heat.
Following the afternoon sessions delegates will be able to travel by mini-bus, (or own transport), to the Bedding and Pot Plant Centre at Baginton Nurseries. ADAS advisors, Jill England, Chloe Whiteside and David Talbot, and Baginton Nurseries owner Will Lamb will host an open evening to provide an introduction to the centre and trials programme. There will be accompanied tours of the trials, which include seed versus cutting raised varieties, cool growing systems, effect of spectral filters, overwintered perennials and hellebore as a pot plant niche crop. The event will conclude with an informal barbecue and refreshments at the centre, after which transport will be available to return to Stoneleigh Park.
Delegates are welcome to attend all or part of the event programme and there is no charge for HDC levy payers or BOPP members. For more information and to book on this event, visit https://hdc-bppcopenevening.eventbrite.co.uk
