Avoca Garden Centre County Wicklow
Floristry Ireland :: Horticulture Trends Latest News, Trends, Courses, Services, Products, Suppliers & Jobs for Floristry Sector in Ireland: Garden Centre, Landscape, Architecture, Nurseries, Arboriculture, Sports Turf, Greenkeepers & Fresh Produce Sectors
The PlaySpace is an Architectural Public Art Commission made possible by a partnership funding arrangement utilising the Per Cent for Art Scheme budget, a disability budget and a budget secured by the Killybegs Playground Committee. The competition is open to architects and architect-led design teams. Once a competitor registers to take part in the competition, they have until 21 February 2011 to submit their entries.
Each entry will consist of one A1 size sheet of information. The construction budget for the PlaySpace is €65,000 and a prize fund of €6,000 is available. The winners of the competition will be announced at the end of March 2011.
SARC – an architectural research collective – is looking for expressions of interest in the participation in a canal-based travelling educational programme on the theme of ‘architecture and sustainability’ to take place on the Barrow navigation, travelling from Monasterevin to Waterford from May to July 2011.
Selected participants will be asked to develop the theme of Slow – architecture and sustainability in relationship to a project and the process of design. Participants should have the enthusiasm and experience to communicate their project as part of a teaching process to school children.
The notion of Slow Architecture as a design approach for our built environment – an approach based on time for reflection as well as the craft of making – formed the basis of our exhibition on the Grand Canal in 2010. This exhibition engaged with some 300 school children as well as architects and the general public over its two month journey from Shannon to Liffey.
The three pillars of social, environmental and ethical concerns support the slow movement and it is the communication of these values through our built environment to the younger generation that forms the basis for our programme in 2011.
Expressions of Interest should take the form of a written document of not more than 300 words with accompanying illustrations and clearly demonstrate your intended response and method of communicating to a younger generation.
Your document should be sent to SARC c/o Solearth, Daintree Building, 62 Pleasants Place Dublin 8- before 30th January 2011. Further informationwww.slowarchitecture.ie
The future of the Irish economy has become increasingly dependent on the agri-
food sector as the leading indigenous industry. The sector has taken decisive action in response to the challenging market environment with a strong focus on costs combined with investments to broaden the customer and market base served. These developments leave the sector in a stronger position to withstand the pressures created by the ongoing global economic situation and ever volatile exchange rates.
The export performance was boosted by a more stable consumer environment, somewhat reduced exchange rate pressures, improved relative competitiveness of Irish manufacturers and higher global prices for most agricultural commodities. The strength of this performance is highlighted by the fact that during the first nine months of 2010, food and drink exports accounted for 30% of the growth recorded in total merchandise exports. All major categories recorded increased export revenues in 2010 with the strongest growth evident in Dairy, Beverages, Meat and Seafood.
Looking ahead to 2011 the prospects for food and drink exports remain broadly positive, helped by relatively strong global demand for commodity products and a tight supply situation in a number of key product categories.
Click here to view the related press release - "Bord Bia: Irish Food & Drink Key Export Driver as Sales Approach €8 billion"
Download the report in (PDF format):
Export Performance and Prospects for 2010-2011
Many garden centres claim a point of difference – in fact I do often get a response when I pose the question. But mostly what I am told are ‘Good Quality’, ‘Good Range’, ‘Friendly, Knowledgeable Staff’. Which garden retailer would survive today without these qualities? These are not so much points of difference as necessities!

A genuine Point of Difference must embody all of the following three aspects:-
John Russell comments: Often when I am consulting, or running staff training sessions, I ask the staff or garden centre owner ‘What is your Point of Difference?’ – ‘If I drove into town and had a choice of three garden centres to visit why would I choose yours?’
I expect to be bombarded with lots of reasons and aspects that make the particular outlet different. Instead, I am met by a lot of pondering and head scratching! If the owner and staff don’t know what makes their store special and different, how will their customers, and why will they go there?
Unless all three factors are in place there is little or no point of difference.


So how do we go about making our garden retail outlet different and special? Here are some ideas:-
Collaborative Entrepreneurship and Innovation A Weekend Workshop for Change Makers Saturday & Sunday 22nd - 23rd January 2011 | 09.30 - 17.00 | €175 / Early Bird €150 ends 14th Jan | Book Online Here | The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 | Map | PDF Invite In these challenging times how can we use collaborative forms of leadership, innovation, fundraising and community building to strengthen our entrepreneurial and change projects? This workshop introduces:
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UpStart is a non-profit arts collective (view an intro video)which aims to put creativity at the centre of public consciousness during the Irish General Election Campaign in 2011. We plan to do this by reinterpreting the spaces commonly used for displaying election campaign posters in Dublin City and are calling on all artists to submit work for this exhibition.
The objectives of UpStart are to encourage a debate on the role of the arts in this state. We hope to highlight the importance of creativity and ingenuity when society is in need of direction and solutions, and to emphasize the value of the arts to public life. We believe that the future development of the country requires a healthy cultivation of the Arts.
We are asking for submissions to this project from the full range of artistic disciplines. Our aim is to receive 500 submissions from writers and visual artists, photographers, painters and graphic designers. These works will be duplicated and 1000 pieces will be printed as election size posters and be erected throughout Dublin city. We are also accepting works from musicians and film makers which will be hosted and exhibited through our website which will be launched on the day of the electoral poster campaign.
UpStart comprises artists and writers from Ireland and abroad and are non-aligned to any political party. UpStart respects and follows Dublin City Council litter regulations and operates within the requirements of Irish law.
Free training for jobseekers | green-works.ie
Interested? Please fill-in an Expression of Interest Form | Dublin Hub: Cultivate, The Greenhouse, St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map)
Green Works offers courses at Cultivate, both in Dublin and the Eco Village in Cloughjordan, Tipperary, and at our partner hubs in Cork and Sligo (with other locations coming on line soon). The training is aimed at educating and upskilling the workforce, preparing students for growing opportunities within Ireland’s green economy. Students will benefit from a wide variety of themed courses, FETAC certificates, workshops, work placements, lectures, networking and more.
Join us for our monthly meetings where we share ideas, watch films, set challenges, and discuss current issues all within the framework of living sustainably and understanding sustainability locally and globally. Our meetings have been running for over three years and bring the Cultivate community together for a bit of mutual appreciation . So do come along!
Mark your calendars... The future dates of members' meetings are: 20 December 2010 - 7pm | 24 Jan 2011 – 7pm | 21 Feb 2011 – 7pm | 28 March 2011 - 7pm | 18 April 2011 – 7pm | 30 May 2011 – 7pm | 20 June 2011 – 7pm
All meetings are at The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map)
| GreenSpace news |
| Full green space advocacy document released GreenSpace has published an extended version of its Blue Sky Green Space advocacy document, comprehensively highlighting the benefits of parks, drawing from a substantial evidence base. The well-received executive summary of the document was presented to ministers last year on behalf of GreenLINK to keep green spaces on the political agenda. The paper outlines the many benefits that a diverse range of quality green spaces bring, covering health; communities; economic and environmental value. Blue Sky Green Space is intended to be a collaborative, fluid format - reacting appropriately to the latest research - and will be updated accordingly. More GreenLINK brings together, at a national level, organisations that are active in the parks and green space sector. Participating organisations include charities and trusts, social enterprises and other non-governmental bodies. The next meeting will take place on 21 January. Please email Sarah Cox at sarahc@green-space.org.uk for more information. GreenSpace stepping up social media activity The new year has signalled the launch of GreenSpace’s new social media action plan. Increased activity on Twitter will allow us to spread information and respond to enquiries as quickly as possible. This feed will be particularly useful for sharing daily news and events that haven’t made it into The Bench. To stay up-to-date with sector news, or to ask us a question, see www.twitter.com/GreenSpaceUK . The GreenSpace Community Network will also be looking to engage with the public through Facebook, and is set to unveil its page in the coming weeks. Membership to the Community Network is free to all community groups, with benefits including knowledge sharing and discounts on many GreenSpace offerings. More Also in 2011... GreenSpace will be exhibiting at green and ethical lifestyle show UK Aware on 25-26 March 2011. Our magazine Green Places is a media sponsor of the event. The show is taking place during Climate Week, a national campaign week against climate change, which we are also supporting. Not a professional but still interested in parks? The Community Bench is a newsletter dedicated to members of the community who would like to keep up to date with the latest developments affecting their green space. The Community Bench provides updates on news, funding avenues and events, as well as profiling members of community groups across the country to help spread learning and good practise. Sign up here. ^^top |
| Sector news |
| CABE Space publishes guide to successful green space management CABE Space has released a new document examining how the organisation and structuring of parks and green space services affects their performance. 'Managing green spaces: seven ingredients for success’ brings together evidence to assist green space managers, corporate decision-makers and advisors in deciding the future of services. It sets out seven ‘ingredients for success. and outlines the resources that green space managers can draw on to describe the critical services that green spaces provide to local communities. A summary of the research is published on the CABE website, and a full version is available here. Following its loss of funding, CABE's online presence is now an archived version of the organisation's website as of 1 January 2011. Although the site will no longer be updated. the permanent archive, provided by the National Archive, will still be of great value to practitioners in the sector, particularly the technical advice section specifically for green space managers. More Parks across the UK receive Lottery cash boost The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have announced the latest round of confirmed funding for parks through their joint Parks for People funding programme. Wandle Park in Croydon receives £1.9 million to restore its original Victorian features and The Green in Allerdale, Cumbria has been allocated £1.2 million will partly go towards training for up to 80 new staff. HLF has also separately awarded £2.5 million to Aberdeen’s Duthie Park and £820,000 to Cwmdonkin Park in Swansea, while a further 11 parks have received first-round passes. A full list of parks and their planned spending areas are detailed on the HLF website, accompanied by a quote from GreenSpace General and Business Development Manager David Tibbatts praising the continued Lottery funding. More Royal approval for the role of parks The Queen’s Christmas message focused on the value of play and exercise to the nation, particularly recognising the health benefits of such activities as the 2012 Olympics draw nearer. In her address to the nation, the Queen paid tribute to the sport played by those “in the parks of towns and cities and on village greens up and down the country.” These visits, she added, “play a part in providing a different perspective on life.” More 2011 - International year of forests The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Events taking place throughout the year are designed to raise awareness and promote ‘forests for people’. More Parks services recognised in national awards night The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Networks Awards 2010 were held in December. The awards celebrate the best performers from local councils in frontline public services and those services that have made the most improvement on performance. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council was awarded 'top performer' in the parks, open spaces and horticultural services category. 'Most improved performer' in the category was Dumfries and Galloway Council. Both winners were presented their awards by Kirsty Rhind, forum manager of GreenSpace North West, who sponsored the awards category. APSE’s Performance Networks service hosts the UK’s largest voluntary data benchmarking group for local councils, which helps them to improve value for money and quality in local public services. More ^^top |
| Diary dates |
| For a full list of upcoming events in the sector, visit the GreenSpace sector events page. 20 January 2011 SUDS foundation course Organiser: CIRIA Location: London Contact: www.ciria.org A one-day training programme to enable practitioners to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage SUDs schemes.2 February 2011 Natural Connections: the role of green space in connecting people to their local environment Organiser: Countryside Recreation Network Location: Sheffield Contact: www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk A one-day conference exploring the changes in the concepts of 'natural' and 'outdoors', and what this means for the services that green spaces provide and how it is managed - as a component or urban and rural infrastructure. 10 February 2011 Inspecting Play Areas - cutting the cost Organiser: London Play Location: London Contact: www.londonplay.org.uk A morning seminar showing how significant savings can be made and systems improved by reducing paperwork and having a smarter approach to inspections.14 February 2011 Green Flag demonstration day Organiser: GreenSpace East Midlands Location: Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire Contact: www.green-space.org.uk/eastmidlands A one-day event to learn about the scheme, its award categories and their criteria, site and assessments, mystery shopper, the scheme timetable and benefits of winning an award. The day will achieve this through presentations, examples, outdoor activities and a site visit. 22 February 2011 Enhancing sites for natural play Organiser: Environmental Training Network Location: Birmingham Contact: shop.btcv.org.uk A one-day course to explore the process of enhancing sites for children’s natural play in parks, country parks, heritage sites, school grounds, play areas and other open spaces. 23 February 2011 Improving access to paths Organiser: Paths for All Location: West Lothian Contact: www.pathsforall.org.uk A one-day course providing essential information for improving access to paths for everyone in the countryside. Learn to evaluate your own path provision in order to make reasonable adjustments, improving accessibility to a wider range of users. |

The Rondeel facility is a unique housing concept for laying hens. The concept is the culmination of extensive research undertaken at Wageningen University, which set out to explore the options for a sustainable future for laying hen husbandry. The first Rondeel facility was opened in the Dutch town of Barneveld in April 2010. Construction of the second Rondeel facility commenced in September.
In a nutshell, the concept consists of night quarters and day quarters. The night quarters provide for the hen’s primary needs: eating, sleeping, resting and laying eggs. The day quarters are designed to meet the hen’s natural needs such as scratching and dust bathing. The Rondeel facility is the ultimate example of economic and corporate social responsibility: respect for animal welfare, the environment and economic gains.
The role of artificial grass in the Rondeel facility
The aim of the initiators was to introduce a true-to-nature concept into the hens’ day quarters. In other words: to simulate the hens’ natural outdoor environment indoors. Not natural grass, which would have a limited life span, but artificial grass. GardenGrass was the only supplier willing to take up the challenge of fitting the entire Day Quarters out with artificial grass, allowing the hens to move around freely, scratch and peck at the ground.
Initial results are encouraging, suggesting that the intended beneficial effects have been established: healthy, vibrant hens producing a high egg yield. Those positive results provided much of the impetus for introducing the second facility so soon after the first. This Rondeel facility will also be equipped with the GardenGrass system. A sustainable solution for an equally sustainable concept.
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In addition to creating mutual web links and support of members' professional needs through joint development, commitment and action, both Organisations will provide representatives to work on mutual relevant work programmes. Ifpra and Ifla have agreed to support the principles of the ICOMOS Venice Charter to develop a World Landscape Charter that incorporates concern for the preservation and enhancement of the world environment and sensitive development of both natural and cultural landscapes within it, in order to enhance the quality of life.
The two Organisations are to work together to develop international policy on environmental and educational issues of mutual interest, to achieve a more effective 'voice' in international fora.
Rob Small, President of Ifpra, states:
The International Federation of parks and Recreation is delighted to be joining forces with the International Federation of Landscape architects through this memorandum of understanding. The elements of built and soft landscapes in our urban environments are more significant than many people realise on our health and well-being, our sense of place, our environment and the economy of our cities. We are looking forward to working on joint initiatives that we hope will have a profound impact on preserving our cultural landscapes, and further the liveability of our communities.
Diane Menzies, President of Ifla, states:
Ifla welcomes the agreement. We have much in common and many landscape architects work in park design and management. I am sure a closer working relationship will benefit both our memberships.
2] Decoy Pricing
This is a technique that has proved to work in the restaurant industry and I am sure will work for some other retailers. I came across it in a blog by Roger Dooley entitled “Neuro-Menus and Restaurant Psychology”
The principle is that you price an inferior product at a close price point to a genuine great quality product with the aim of boosting sales of the higher priced product. The two products need to be located near to each other to enable the consumer to price compare and they both need to be heavily signed. This system could work where you are offering a small and large version of the same product. Put the price up of the smaller product to make the larger product look more attractive to the consumer.
3] Romance the Sale
This is a technique used by the perfume industry, food retailers and plant sellers.
“This season the rules are being rewritten with a trend ... ” what a great way to sell a new product, in this case it was lipstick.
“Feel, Imagine, Enjoy” to sell a perfume.
And
“Splash out on Timeless Treats” to sell blouses.
How can you develop in-store romance promotions using emotional selling?
4 ] Priceless Pricing
Priceless Pricing is another example from the restaurant industry that I have seen used many times in my webinars on my Members Club. The research indicates that if you remove the “$” sign when pricing the average sale goes up. If restaurants price a meal at $14.55 it will sell less that if it was priced at 14.55. The removal of the $, £, or € sign can make a big different to the bottom line.
Take a fresh look at your pricing strategy and consider how you can manipulate it to increase sales. Often the consumer will not notice. I worked with one client in the garden industry where we changed the price based on whether a plant was in flower or not. The consumer expects to pay more when the plant is in flower. Your job is not to disappoint them.
John Stanley is a retail business coach, speaker and author. He has authored several successful marketing and retail books, produces a monthly internet TV program Retail Globe Report on retail trends as well as monthly e-training for his Club Members on his website. As a CSP John is considered one of the top ten percent of speakers in the world. John Stanley helps retailers: Increase sales per square metre, increase the average sale per customer, better manage stock, merchandise and display to maximise potential, market more effectively to convert lookers into buyers. Visit www.johnstanley.com.au to join his Members Club or for information on how he can help you grow your business or email linda@johnstanley.com.au
| | January 2011 |
| Happy New Year! Here we are again, the old year is just a memory and (hopefully) everyone is filled with optimism for 2011. Our mission for the New Year is truly to ‘Colour your Lives’! ResourcesThis means equipping retailers with the tools they need to get even better results in their planterias than they did in 2010. Go online at www.colour-your-life.co.uk to see the new suite of materials plus the full list![]() ![]() ![]() of promotional themes for the coming year. Materials are available directly from the website, via the on-line poster service or to create directly from the special CD ROM (drop us a line if you need one and we’ll send it out). The flexibility is there so that whatever medium works best for you – you can choose it. For established users, you’ll notice some exciting innovations and improvements, including the possibility to scale your logo to whatever size suits you.CommunicationThe digital newsletter has proved to be a fantastic success with more retailers reading and benefiting from it every month. Feedback suggests that it is a targeted and efficient way for people to access campaign stories and news – Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter ?
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| Play your cards right and get loyalty from your customers! A well marketed Loyalty or Reward scheme is a great way of engaging with your customers and get them returning to Another survey carried out by Loyalty specialist ICLP found that Tesco and Boots topped the poll of retailers shoppers have the strongest relationship with. Both of these retail giants have loyalty schemes which are probably the most popular in the UK. Stuart Evans, ICLP UK general manager says: “It is clear that customers want something in return for their loyalty. When UK shoppers feel the pinch of the VAT increase next year, this call will surely get louder and go out to more and more top UK brands." | |
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| We don't like to blow our own trumpet.... So we let others do it for us! Over the last few months we have heard from retailers who find our campaign an asset to their business; this month we hear from Louise Canfield. Louise is in charge of POS at a major independent garden centre in Hertfordshire. | |
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The GLDA is an association of qualified and experienced garden designers and landscape architects who are also plant experts, which was formed in 1995 to set and maintain the highest professional standards in the field. The founders believed there was a need for a truly professional umbrella organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and that such an Association would bring immense benefits and security to the public, the designers and the future of garden-making and landscaping in Ireland.
Before becoming a Full Member, each applicant is rigorously assessed by an external panel of professionals, made up of acknowledged experts from the design, horticultural, and academic sides of the profession.
The faith of those early members was not misplaced. Within a few short years the GLDA has grown to become a dynamic force for good, which is now at the forefront of the revolution in Irish gardening. Through its ongoing training opportunities in drawing and surveying, its practical workshops and field trips, its intelligence gathering network, and most publicly, its highly acclaimed annual international design seminar, the GLDA disseminates new information on methods, techniques and current best practice in landscape design and horticulture, and has created a new demand for improved quality and increased availability of a much wider and more interesting selection of plants.
Scientists may be able to halt global honey bee losses by forcing the deadly Varroa mite, lethal in the freezing weather, to self destruct.
The blood-sucking Varroa is the biggest killer of honey bees world-wide, having developed resistance to beekeepers’ medication. It is particularly destructive in winter as depleted colonies do not have enough bees huddling together to keep warm.
Now researchers from the Government’s National Bee Unit and Aberdeen University have worked out how to ‘silence’ natural functions in the mites’ genes to make them self destruct.

Dr. Alan Bowman from the University of Aberdeen said:
“Introducing harmless genetic material encourages the mites’ own immune response to prevent their genes from expressing natural functions. This could make them self destruct.
“The beauty of this approach is that it is really specific and targets the mites without harming the bees or, indeed, any other animal.”
Dr Giles Budge from National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), said:
“This cutting edge treatment is environmentally-friendly and poses no threat to the bees. With appropriate support from industry and a rigorous approval process, chemical-free medicines could be available in five to ten years.”
Environment Minister Lord Henley said:
“Bees are essential to putting food on our table and worth £200m to Britain every year through pollinating our crops. This excellent work by UK scientists will keep our hives healthy and bees buzzing.”
The process uses the Nobel Prize-winning theory ‘RNA interference’, which controls the flow of genetic information. So far the ‘silencing’ has worked with a neutral Varroa gene, which has no significant effect on the mite. Scientists now need to target a gene with the specific characteristics that are perfect to force the Varroa to self destruct.
Tests by other scientists have shown the treatment can be added to hives in bee feed. The bees move it into food for their young, where the Varroa hides.
I had just returned from Scotland and had rented the front room of the house from were I slept and worked. I was still, by 2 or 3 months, 24 years of age. Not the prettiest start, maybe, but I had to start somewhere….
A friend designed a logo and made me one t-shirt and one fleece jacket. Some headed paper and business cards were made. At the time I borrowed a friends fax line number so ‘I looked more professional’. I also used my folks home address. I bought a second hand computer [that couldn't work the internet] and printer for IR£80 and I was, put in extremely simple terms, in business.
I don’t have many images from that or the early years. Digital cameras weren’t out then. I did find this promo flyer that was done in that year and this image from January 2004 is the earliest I know of not on a photo negative.
I was trying to think of some firsts/ milestones for this post… 10 years is a long time. These are the few that immediately come to mind….
But then there’s also some nice reading that tells the story well on the home and about pages.
These words that I have used for many years probably summise what I want to say quite well. Here’s to another 10 years. Thank you.
Whilst I flicked through my diary and realised just how much I actually had done… it should be noted that none of this would make any sense without someone to share the stories, the laughter and equally the tears with. I am forever greatful to the so many great friends and people I have met along this years road. From my heart, thank you.
Did I enjoy it? Every second. Don’t get me wrong… no road is an easy an easy one especially when I work in an industry that is so weather dependant and I am self employed. That is not a complaint…. more an additional reason to appreciate the people who stand tall by my side when times are a little tougher. You were there too when we laugh our socks off.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Thank you again, everyone, for everything.
Peter

Saturday & Sunday 22nd - 23rd January 2011 | 09.30 - 17.00 | €175 / Early Bird €150 ends 14th Jan | Book Online Here | The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 | Map | PDF Invite
In these challenging times how can we use collaborative forms of leadership, innovation, fundraising and community building to strengthen our entrepreneurial and change projects?
This workshop introduces:
This workshop is highly interactive and features short presentations from leading practitioners. Our learning will grow out of everyone’s contributions and presence. We will
support each other as co-learners. We will learn by observation, through stories from experienced practitioners, through reflecting on our own experience and practice, using interactive processes to build a safe and inspiring learning environment. We invite you to a collective inquiry.
Biographies of Facilitators
Simone Poutnik is a social entrepreneur, designer and facilitator of
collaborative innovation processes. She initiated and co-founded the Hub
Brussels - an inspiring space for people with ideas for a better world and
Natural Innovation, where she works with diverse groups of people from
government, business, non-profit and art organisations on experiential
learning and collaborative innovation for resilient futures.
www.natural-innovation.net
Hendrik Tiesinga designs and facilitates collaborative learning
and innovation processes in the field of sustainability in business and
social innovation. He is a co-founder of Natural Innovation and the Finance
Innovation Lab, a multi-stakeholder collaboration for sustainable
innovation in the financial sector in the UK. His other projects range from
collaborative space design to multi-stakeholder labs on metropolitan
agriculture.
www.natural-innovation.net
Chris Chapman is an experienced facilitator and host who specialises
in creating safe spaces to support deep and transformational work.
He is fascinated with how we blend individual, collective and global agendas
and how we can support the development of leaders fit for the times
we are in.
www.changeexploratory.com
Davie Philip is the Communications Manager at the Green Works
Tipperary Hub and runs the Community Resilience programme at Cultivate.
He lives in the Ecovillage in Cloughjordan and is currently the coordinator
for the Transition Network in Ireland and sits on the board of
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
www.green-works.ie | www.cultivate.ie
‘Your Business, Your Bank’ was prepared by the Credit Supply Clearing Group and offers advice for businesses, focusing on relationship-building, ensuring confidence and accessing credit.
Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe welcomed the launch and said…
The guide outlines various funding options open to businesses, provides an insight into what banks are looking for when examining credit applications, imparts information on credit pricing, and reveals practical tips on how to package credit applications
The guide takes into account the significant changes in the economic climate and credit requirements.
Minister O’Keeffe continued…
Before 2008, most credit applications were for loans for new capital investments but the severe economic downturn has brought about a dramatic shift in that trend.
This guide is timely in setting out the funding options for small businesses, outlining how they can access the kind of credit they need, and drawing together multiple stakeholders across Government and the enterprise community towards the common cause of recovery in the domestic economy,
The Credit Supply Clearing Group was setup by the Government in May last year.
The guide will compliment a new standard credit application form created by the Credit Review Office, designed to provide banks with all the information required to assess an credit application.
The full guide can be viewed here 200kb pdf

Dr. Matthew Jebb MA, DPhil (Oxon) has been appointed, by the Office of Public Works, as the new Director of the National Botanic Gardens, and took up the post from the 1st September. A graduate of Oxford University and former researcher at Trinity College, Dr Jebb has lived for over 5 years in Papua New Guinea, and has been Keeper of the Herbarium and Taxonomist (Ainmneoir Plandai) at the National Botanic Gardens since 1998. He has represented Europe as a vice-president on the bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and is currently Chairman of PlantNetwork, the Plant Collections Network of Britain and Ireland. See here for more information on Matthew Jebb. . .
The Centre’s focus is on conserving Biodiversity in a changing world where sustainability of natural resources is a challenging but important goal. It is crucial in ensuring that our global society can develop to its full potential within awell-protected environment, balancing economic, social and environmental demands – the three 'pillars' of sustainability. Sustainable utilisation of the natural world and its biodiversity requires wide, cross-disciplinary analysis including natural and social sciences, engineering solutions, economic assessment and strategic planning; combining them to provide effective transformations towards a more sustainable society.


Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including the ecological complexes of which they are part. It is the foundation of ecosystem services upon which human well-being depends. However, biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, which is eroding our capacity to sustain the planet. Given the recent recognition of climate change as a key driver for biodiversity loss, in association with historical challenges of habitat and land use change, the conservation of biodiversity is at the core of sustainable development. It is only through the utilisation of the living environment in a renewable fashion that we can achieve a sustainable future.
The Centre for Biodiversity Research represents a core of skilled academic researchers in the field and aims to promote innovative and interdisciplinary research encompassing all aspects affecting the natural world. The Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland and is a flagship initiative for the School of Natural Sciences and for Trinity College and has strong links with other centres working on related topics
Contact: michael.hagan@itb.ie
The talk will be held on Thursday December 16th in the Botany Lecture Theatre, Botany Building, Trinity College Dublin from 7pm – 8pm. Here’s a link to the Facebook event page.
“Carey has a point to make and, with the help of maps, old paintings, and much time digging around in libraries both here and in England, he argues his case as tenaciously as a woodland Richard Dawkins. In a nutshell, he doesn’t swallow the old ideological chestnut which insists that Ireland was always completely covered in forests until our nasty English neighbours came in and cut it all down. “I wanted to find out how much woodland was actually there,” he says. “It has been grossly overstated because of the way we’ve been taught history, and because the experts disagree big-time on it”
It promises to be a great talk!!
The Garden celebrated the tercentenary of the College in 1892 with the presentation of a massive specimen of the tree fern Todea barbara, a gift from the Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne. A cutting of this plant still thrives in the present Garden. The position of Curator was abandoned after the death of Burbidge, and as a result the Gardens ceased to develop. This was partly redressed with the appointment of an assistant curator in 1950. In 1965 a plan was put before the College Board to relocate the Gardens at Trinity Hall, an accommodation complex in Dartry. This move was approved, giving the Gardens better long-term security as the Trinity Hall site is free hold. The move was completed over 1966 and 1967; two modern hotel complexes now stand on the former Ballsbridge Garden. Many important plant specimens were transferred to Dartry, including a 25 foot tall Ginkgo and various cycads.
Since the move to Dartry, the development of a new botanic garden has proceeded steadily. An important development was the establishment of a position of Administrator in 1981 (now Curator/Administrator). Over the past ten years the gardens has developed an international reputation for plant conservation work, and supports a diversity of research projects ranging from low temperature tolerance to the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on growth of grasses. The Garden celebrated the College quatercentenary with the gift of another tree fern from Australia; this time the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney presented a fine specimen of Cyathea australis.
A more detailed history may be found in The Story of the Botanic Gardens of Trinity College 1687 to 1987 by Peter Wyse Jackson, published privately in 1987. An edited version was published as The Botanic Garden of Trinity College Dublin 1687 to 1987 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (1987), vol 95 pp 301-311.
Curators Date Appointed James Townsend Mackay 1802 John Bain 1862 Michael Dowd 1875 Frederick Moore 1877 Frederick W. Burbidge 1879 S.G. Wild 1905 R. Byrne 1949 D. McKennedy 1960 Peter S. Wyse Jackson 1981** Stephen Waldren 1990 ** Post re-established as Garden Administrator in 1981 (Curator/Administrator from 1994)Directors Date Appointed Henry H. Dixon 1905 David A. Webb 1950 William A. Watts 1966* David H.S. Richardson 1980 David W. Jeffrey 1992 John A.N. Parnell 2002 Mike B. Jones 2005 * During some of the period up to 1980, D.W. Jeffrey was appointed Acting-Director
The 2010 Agricultural Journalism Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Mr.Brendan Smith TD, at an awards ceremony in AIB Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland, in association with AIB, the awards are presented every two years for work of outstanding merit in six different categories with an Overall Winner being chosen from the six category winners. All the entries are judged by an independent panel of judges.
This year the Overall Winner was Agri Aware for its “Incredible Edibles” campaign that targeted primary school children around the country with the objective of increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, promoting a balanced diet, and highlighting the role of the farmer in producing quality safe food.
In 2010, 79% or 2,635 primary schools participated in the programme, and each school received a free growing pack which has everything they need to grow potatoes, strawberries, lettuce, carrots and spinach.
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS AND WINNERS
NATIONAL PRINT
GMO Series, Stephen Cadogan, Farm Examiner
Money Mentor, Peter Young, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal
Family Ties – The Meehans, Maria Moynihan, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal
Glanbia Demerger Analysis, Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill, Irish Farmers Journal
WINNER - GLANBIA DEMERGER ANALYSIS by Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill
NATIONAL BROADCAST
Tractor Theft, Darragh McCullough, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1)
Opera Farmer, Helen Carroll, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1)
Higher Ground, Peter Young & Paul McCarthy, Good Company Productions for RTE
Flooding, Damien O’Reilly, Countrywide (RTE Radio One)
WINNER - HIGHER GROUND by Peter Young & Paul McCarthy
LOCAL MEDIA
What’s Best for Glanbia Farmer-Suppliers? Sean Keane, Kilkenny People
Flanders Fields War Harvest, Rodney Magowan, Farm Week
WHY? Double Misery as John’s Herd is Wiped Out Again! Chris McCullough, Farm Week
WINNER - WHY? by Chris McCullough
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Agricultural Land Price Survey, Shirley Busteed, Irish Farmers Journal
Herd Health – Getting to Grips Will Save Money, Riona Sayers, Today’s Farm - Teagasc
CASH COWS – Milking More Money from Grass, Jack Kennedy, Irish Farmers Journal (DVD)
WINNER - LAND PRICE SURVEY by Shirley Busteed
TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS
Standing Their Ground – Farm Women Pension Rights Campaign, Irish Farmers Association
Incredible Edibles – Schools Growing Vegetables Campaign, Agri Aware
WINNER - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES by Agri Aware
PHOTOGRAPHIC
Here’s Looking At You Kid! (Glanbia SGM), Fergal O’Gorman, Freelance
The Long Acre, Belmullet, Pat O’Keeffe, Irish Farmers Journal
Combine Harvesters, Duleek, Chris McCullough, Farm Week
WINNER - COMBINE HARVESTERS by Chris McCullough, Farm Week
OVERALL AWARD 2010 – “THE BULL” TROPHY - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES, Agri Aware
JUDGING PANEL
The members of the judging panel were Conor Brady, Chairman, (former Editor, Irish Times), Frances Ruane (ESRI), Jimmy Brett (Brett Bros.), John Gilliland (former President, UFU), Prof. Paddy Wall (UCD), and Colm Cronin (PR Consultant).
SPECIAL AWARD
A special award for “Communications with the Rural Community” was presented by AIB to veteran journalist, Ray Ryan, who recently retired from the Irish Examiner, for his unique contribution to communications with the farming and rural sectors in Ireland over the last 48 years. Ray spent 10 years with The Kerryman and 38 years with the Cork/Irish Examiner, the last 13 years as Agricultural Correspondent.
There is a pressing need to formulate a strategy on farming and the wider issue of rural development. Such a strategy needs to be built up and developed by the communities directly affected by rural under-development. We believe that its core objective should be to break the cumulative cycle that starts with population decline, leading to a reduced demand for services, which leads to fewer employment opportunities and ultimately migration out of rural areas.
Throughout Ireland there are communities fighting their way out of this cycle with little or no aid from central government. These communities have often formed their own new co-operatives, local currency networks, social enterprise and development projects. They have started organic farming projects, agri-tourism initiatives and other diversified agricultural businesses.
These communities need proper funding and resources from central government. They need local government structures that can adapt to their needs.
Sinn Féin believes that the core objectives of any rural development programme should be:
Sinn Féin also proposes:
Real reform of the CAP
Its original objectives were to maintain the maximum amount of farmers on the land while ensuring a proper standard of living for farmers and fair prices to consumers. This has not been delivered. The CAP funding mechanisms must be changed to help small farmers.
A funding initiative to promote organic farming in Ireland
Organic farming becomes commercially viable on a much smaller acreage than current farming. Such a programme will promote rural repopulation and could be vital element in breaking the current cycle of rural under-development.
Support for other projects
Other projects such as encouraging co-operative agricultural projects and broadleaf forestry projects should be vigorously promoted and supported.
Matching funds for rural enterprise projects
The bulk of funding for economic development currently goes to foreign export-orientated companies. Sinn Féin believes there should be equity in the allocation of funding for enterprise projects. Funding for indigenous enterprise projects have been cut in recent years.
Ending discrimination against local enterprise projects
There is also another level of discrimination in domestic funding mechanisms. Enterprise Ireland, the agency responsible for developing indigenous business, currently favours aiding businesses with export potential, overlooking the community and social enterprise sector. Sinn Féin believes that this form of economic discrimination should end.
An increase in Leader funds
The success of rural development projects under the EU Leader Programme is well recognised. However, such community-orientated funds only account for 7 per cent of the funding coming into the island over the next seven years. Sinn Féin believes that Leader funds are a vital part of any rural regeneration programme and should be the substantial part of EU funding flowing to rural areas.
A national conference
The crisis in rural Ireland is one that must be acted on now. Central government in Ireland should be prevailed upon to hold a national conference that could formulate a strategy to promote rural development in Ireland. Such a conference would have to be organised on a bottom-up participatory basis and not be solely representative of the vested interests that dominate agri-business and rural policies today.
The North-South Ministerial Conference (NSMC) has a role to play in organising this initiative. There is a pressing need for the formulation of policies on branding an all-Ireland national beef and dairy herd as well as making Ireland a centre for organic food within the EU.
These steps should be the beginning of a wider process of developing an all-Ireland strategy on agriculture.
EU funds
The EU must recognise the island as one economic unit when it comes to the allocation of EU funds and the application of policy. A crucial aspect of this would have to be a recognition of the need to recognise, through funding and policy formulation, the special needs of the Border regions to have their agricultural economies fully integrated.
EU programmes such as Leader should be administered immediately on an all-Ireland basis.
Organic food and the GM issue
There is a clear need for an integrated approach to organic farming throughout the island.
The island as a whole should be declared a GM-free zone. Not only would this be a major boost for the quality of food products being sold to Irish consumers but it would also help hugely the marketing of Irish food produce internationally. Again the NSMC has a clear role to play here.
Farmers markets and the co-operative principle
Planning law should include the need for farmers’ markets in new retail developments. Specific funding should be allocated to set up and fund such markets which must be run on the co-operative principle by the local communities in which those markets are sited.
Bringing quality back into Irish farming
There is a need to bring quality back into the Irish farm sector right from the decisions being made by the individual farmers, the food processors and abattoirs right down to the supermarkets and exporters.
We need an island wide code of principles for farm practices and commercial food processing. BSE and other diseases have been created not by chance but by the commercialisation of farming.

I am delighted to be able to present this report to the Committee. It is the fruit of much work in consultation with a wide range of people involved in the farming and fishing sector. As such it represents an accurate picture of both the current state of the rural…Read more

Download a PDF of Sinn Féin's “Awakening the West - Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality”. Read more
Martin Ferris TD Phone: (01) 6184248
Email: martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie
Martin Ferris is Sinn Féín TD for Kerry North and party spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Local Government and Communications Energy & Natural Resources. He has been outspoken in highlighting the need for a co-ordinated strategy to re-build rural communities which have become depopulated over the last decade due to a lack of government strategy and the ongoing withdrawl of essential services.
He was elected to Kerry County Council and Tralee UDC in 1999 and to Leinster House for the constituency of Kerry North in 2002 and again in 2007. As the party's EU candidate for Munster in 1999 he received almost 30,000 votes. He is playing a key role in the development of the party across the country.
Martin was part of the Sinn Féin negotiating team and participates in party delegations which meet with the Irish and British governments. He has travelled extensively in support of the peace process.
Martin Ferris is married with six children. He has been an active republican since 1970 and was jailed for his political beliefs in the 1980s.
No Change in Payment Level for Main Agriculture Schemes
The key schemes in relation to agriculture have seen no reduction in their rates. This means that for 2011, farmers participating in the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, REPS 4, AEOS and the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme will receive the same rate of payments as 2010. While this may be taken as a positive, it should be noted that payment rates under these schemes have seen substantial cuts already and farmers are getting lower rates than they did in 2008.
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of farming families in receipt of farm assist for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he has taken to improve farmer confidence in the beef carcase classification system; his views on whether these machines are being operated correctly at all times; the deficiencies that have been found by his inspectors in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to establish a nitrates working group with Teagasc to identify solutions for the pigs and poultry sectors once the present arrangement changes in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter
Cork East
Euro Electoral Region:
Ireland South
Electoral Status:
Sean is currently a sitting TD for Cork East .
Address:
Davis Lane
Mallow
Co. Cork
Tel:
Phone: 022 53523
Fax: 022 57761
087-7402057
Email:
sean.sherlock@oir.ie
Website:
http://seansherlock.ie
Political Career:
Occupation:
Memberships:
Other Interests:
Birth Details:
Education:
Leinster House:
Tel: 01 6183611Fax: 01 6184560
Constituency Office Address:
2a, The Lower Mall, Wicklow Town, Wicklow
Tel: 0404-66622, Fax: 0404-66670
Internet:
http://www.andrewdoyle.ie/
E-mail:
andrew.doyle@finegael.ie
Andrew Doyle TD is a Fine Gael General Election candidate for Wicklow.
Andrew was elected to the 30th Dail in May, 2007. He was appointed Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, July, 2010.
He was previously Deputy Spokesperson on Agriculture with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
After representing East Wicklow on Wicklow County Council since 1999, serving Chairman of the Council in 2005/2006, he was elected to represent Wicklow and East Carlow running on a Team Wicklow campaign with Billy Timmins T.D.
Since he has been elected, Andrew Doyle has been working for Wicklow /East Carlow people on many issues and on problems that effect people all over Ireland. Some of these are:
Andrew Doyle said “These policies clearly demonstrate that Fine Gael is awake to the problems this country faces. We represent the people who have the vision the willingness and the community spirit to drive Ireland back to stability and sustainable prosperity. When this is achieved, we will ensure that greed and self interest are never allowed to destroy the labours of generation”.
Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010
Time: 12:30-14:00
Venue: Wood Quay Venue, Dublic City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 2
Topics:
Innovation Fund Ireland - Damien Callaghan, Intel Capital
A Greener Future - Ian Simington, NTR plc
The Seminar will be Chaired by Peter Clinch, Special Advisor to An Taoiseach
Abstract:
A Greener Future
Ian Simington, Chief Executive of NTR plc’s Solar Division, will present an overview of what NTR plc is doing to ensure a Greener Future. As part of the presentation, Ian will talk about the financing of greentech projects and provide an overview of the work of the NTR Foundation, the philanthropic organisation established by NTR plc to address the challenges posed by climate change, resource sustainability and security of energy supply through the provision of targeted financial and expert support to projects, research and non-governmental organisations.
To register for this seminar, please click here
This is the last seminar in the current series
Rebecca Smithers.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/dec/08/replantable-christmas-trees-festive-success-story?cat=money&type=article
Potted and replantable Christmas trees have proved to be a 'surprise hit' say retailers
Potted and replantable Christmas trees have surprised retailers with their popularity with consumers this year.
Shoppers are showing their green credentials this year by creating a record demand for ecologically sound, replantable Christmas trees. The trees, which have roots and can be grown in the garden or in tubs ready for following Christmases, present a viable alternative to the annual hassle of getting rid of a Christmas tree.
Tesco says demand for the "green" trees – available in its stores in three sizes – have been the "surprise hit" this year. Its most popular so far is a miniature version that is about 50cm high, comes fitted with lights and costs £10. The other varieties are 2-3ft and 3ft plus high.
Tesco horticulture buyer Shama Mehan said: : "The miniature tree with lights has become a surprise hit with shoppers and we've already sold tens of thousands of them. We initially trialled them last year and they were snapped up very quickly but this year their popularity has exceeded all our expectations and we have had to order more – and we're still only in the first week of December."
The miniature trees are a variety called Picea, which originally come from Scandinavia but were grown in Holland. Its 3ft high trees are a variety called Nordman Fir while the 2-3ft ones are a variety called Blue Spruce. Both come in one-foot-high pots.
Tesco said the huge demand echoes a major trend in the last year for plants with sales now growing twice the rate as for flowers. Every Christmas over six million real Christmas trees are sold in the UK, but many of which are grown in European countries: resulting in environmental costs created by the transport required to import them to the UK.
B&Q is also reporting strong sales of its potted Christmas trees, which range in size from 40cm to 140cm. This year it has also introduced the smaller Grow Your Own tree for £6.98, saying it marked the start of a new trend for families to buy more than one type of tree.
Annette Hill, assistant buyer in horticulture at B&Q said: "There appears to be a growing trend for households displaying more than one tree, giving parents and kids a chance to stamp their mark. We're also seeing more people than ever buying Grow Your Own trees, especially families with young children, who want to start a tradition so the kids can see their tree grow over the years. When Christmas is over they can put the tree outside in the garden and bring them back inside the following year."
To ensure the survival of a pot-grown tree indoors, you need to give it plenty of water about twice a week and make sure it is not placed too near a fire or radiator. Decorate with only small lights to reduce the heat exposure.
You'll be saving yourself money over the years as they grow. But just be aware that they can grow as much as two feet in a year and once they get much bigger than 5ft they can become difficult to handle. The British Christmas Tree Growers' Association has some handy tips.
Also remember to reintroduce it to the cold outside gradually after Christmas so it does not get a nasty shock. If you are keeping it in a pot outside, rather than in the soil, repot it in a bigger tub each spring so its roots have space to grow.
Homebase also sells live trees, starting at 1.5ft in height and available in Norway Spruce, Fraser Fir, and Nordman Fir. Prices range from £7.99 for the 1.5ft Norway Spruce to £69.99 for a 5.5ft Norway Spruce.
Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, said: "This Christmas, with the decline in availability of trees from the continent, we're hoping more people than ever will support our British growers with a homegrown tree. British Christmas trees are one of the most environmentally friendly crops there are. Opting for a real, UK-grown tree will ensure you're making the most sustainable choice possible and trees bought at Homebase have a tiny carbon footprint, sourced as they are from British growers."
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Each workshop is targeted at individuals with a business idea that has the potential to be scaled up significantly within three years and be export driven.
Participants will have the opportunity for one-to-one consultation with Enterprise Ireland staff regarding individual needs. The workshops are practical, interactive and thought provoking. Participants will be provided with comprehensive information to understand the business development process including the key success factors and potential pitfalls as well as an outline of financial supports available from Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards.
The next EnterpriseSTART workshops in your region are listed below:
EnterpriseSTART workshops 2010
Region | Date & Venue | Contact | Application Form | Flyer | ||
| Dublin & Mid-East | 1-2 February, 2011 Enterprise Ireland, Dublin |
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The research finds that more than 94pc plan to buy some Christmas gifts online this year with men likely to spend more (€192) online than women (€162).Irish consumers are set to spend a total of €356m online on gifts in the run up to Christmas with an average spend of €172 per shopper, according to research from Visa Europe.
According to Visa Europe, the majority of Irish shoppers (85pc) believe they can save an average of 18pc on Christmas gifts by purchasing them over the internet instead of on the High Street. Three quarters (74pc) of people believe that shopping online is a safe and secure way of shopping and two thirds (66pc) turn to the internet because of the protection that paying with cards gives them compared to cash.
Today is set to be the busiest ever day for online shopping across Europe, according to analysis by Visa Europe. For the previous two years, the busiest online shopping day has always been the Monday closest to the start of December and this year it falls on 29 November. In 2009, the peak in online spending occurred on Monday 30 November and in 2008 it was Monday 1 December, according to Visa’s analysis.
Visa Europe is predicting it will handle over 6.6m transactions across Europe during Mega Monday alone or 4,500 every minute. Transactions are forecast to peak in the lunch hour between1pm and 2pm and a second peak is expected around 7pm.
“Shopping online is now a natural part of the gift-buying process for consumers and a key part of Christmas sales strategy for retailers,” said Dr Steve Perry, commercial director, Visa Europe. “The combination of salaries being paid and people taking delivery times into consideration should combine to deliver a record day for internet shopping.”
On the High Street, the last Friday or Saturday before Christmas is usually the busiest shopping day but with Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Visa Europe predicts the busiest day will be Thursday 23 December.
As 2010 is the international year of biodiversity, Dublin City Council is pleased to be supporting this conservation project. The main aims of the project are to create a functioning cherry orchard in the area that will enrich the existing gardens and be a beautiful amenity for the local schools and community. The second aim is to protect the two native Irish cherries, prunus padus and prunus avium, which are in decline in the wild. The orchard will maintain population stocks and provide food for the birds, butterflies and wildlife. “The cherry tree I’m planting today is very special, given the name and history of the area. The community garden project is already a huge success and I am confident the cherry orchard will grow and thrive with the care and attention the local community will give it” said the Lord Mayor.
The Minister of State for Horticulture, Ciarán Cuffe TD, has announced the establishment of a Horticulture Action Group to oversee the implementation of the relevant recommendations relating to Horticulture in the Food Harvest 2020 Report.
Membership of the Group, representing the various sectors of the horticulture industry, comprises:
Mr Kieran Dunne, Nursery Stock producer
Ms Caroline Keeling, Wholesaler and Protected Crop producer
Mr John Hogan, Field Vegetable producer
Ms Lavinia Walsh, Mushroom producer
Mr Maurice Whelton, Potato producer
Mr Mike Neary, An Bord Bia
Mr Jim O'Mahony, Teagasc and
Mr Gabriel Roe, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The remit of the Group is to focus in specific terms on the implementation of the particular recommendations in the 2020 Report relating to Horticulture and to also consider other general farm and agriculture industry level recommendations. The Group will report back to the High Level Implementation Group, which has been set up under the overall chairmanship of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD.
The Minister stated that: "the Horticultural industry has considerable potential to develop but is also facing significant challenges and that he looked forward to the Group progressing the implementation of the 2020 Food Harvest Report".
Minister Cuffe will inaugurate the first meeting of the Group on 2 December 2010.
Seán Connick TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today opened enhanced forest recreational facilities at Belleek Wood, Ballina, Co Mayo, which were developed under the NeighbourWood Scheme operated by his Department.
He warmly congratulated Coillte for developing the facilities, in partnership with the Belleek Enhancement Committee and Mayo County Council, at the Forest including a wheelchair friendly route which stretches along the main walking path of this wonderful local amenity at Belleek Forest.
Minister of State Connick commented "This project was approved for funding under the NeighbourWood Scheme administered by my Department. This scheme is aimed at promoting the development, through local partnerships, of attractive 'close-to-home' woodlands for public use and enjoyment. The Belleek Enhancement Committee is a perfect example of the concept of 'development through local partnerships' as I understand that it works to ensure that Belleek Woods meets the recreation needs of the wider local community". Referring to the development of the wheelchair accessible walk, he added, "In this, the 50th year of the Irish Wheelchair Association, today's opening of a completely wheelchair accessible forest walk here in Belleek Wood is a fitting way to celebrate it."
The Minister of State also noted the measures taken in Belleek Wood to halt the decline in the native red squirrel population, such as the preservation of red squirrel habitats and the diversity of trees in Belleek thus providing a nature reserve for the red squirrel.
An tSli Glas could create 10,000 jobs
Source: Business World
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Over 10,000 jobs could be created over the next five years from the An tSli Glas (The Green Way) project - the country's first green economic zone, according to a spokesman for the organisation.

An tSli Glas -The Green Way is a green economic corridor initiated by a powerful alliance of businesses, academic institutions and local authorities including Ballymun Regeneration, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and North Dublin Chamber. The goal is to position Ireland as a centre of Cleantech innovation and enterprise which will link business to investors and develop trade partnerships with other major international green corridors.
"In spite of the pressure of the recession, the role of the sector in creating useable and uplifting public spaces should not be underestimated," said Gildernew. "There are many challenges, but there is a lot to be positive about."
The overall winner, awarded the Bog Oak trophy, was Peter O'Brien & Sons, which landscaped the Point Village commercial and residential development in Dublin. Portadown-based Clive Richardson won praise for a sports pitch at Croke Park, and Landscape Centre at Ballyclare won plaudits for its walled garden at Bangor Castle.
The awards were presented by Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland chair Steven Thompson.
You can add any of the days to your diary by clicking the relevant link in the table below.
We look forward to seeing you there.
| Day | Date | Times | Add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 02/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Friday | 03/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Saturday | 04/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Sunday | 05/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Monday | 06/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 |
You can register your interest in sponsorship using this form or by calling Paul Gallagher in EventHaus on +353 (0)1 846 0020
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Director of Horticulture at Teagasc Jim O’Mahony is making ready for the public domain and all interested industry sectors. Stay tuned to HortiTrends for this and other latest news updates!
Garden and Landscape Design Seminar, Saturday 29th January 2011
Inspired: What drives successful design?
Design is borne of many things; Ego, empathy , passion, skill, history, belief, knowledge, vision, bravery, economy and emotion all play their part in stimulating designers to solve problems, satisfy desires and overcome challenges. What drives and constitutes successful design is a somewhat more complex issue. While consensus may be reached on intent, function and aesthetics, the shifting sands of time alter perception, attitude and environment making it an essentially ephemeral agreement; And one which design professionals have debated for eons.
To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate. Now in its 15th successful year, the GLDA design seminar, which is aptly entitled, Inspired: What drives successful design? Will take place on Saturday 29th of January at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The speaker line-up for the eagerly awaited 2011 seminar features multi award-winning design professionals of national and international acclaim, including Tom Stuart-Smith, Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects, Hugh Ryan MGLDA and James Doyle of James Doyle Associates.
As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.
This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.
| "Operation Chip It" News | November 3, 2010 |
Facts about “Operation Chip It”
Different messages about ‘Operation Chip It’ are circulating in the media. Some are correct, but there are also many misunderstandings. The short and simple facts are as follows:
Scan your CC Containers – YOUR Guarantee!Containers without a genuine CC RFID tag are not accepted in the CC Pool System. Therefore, we recommend that you always scan the containers you receive. More information
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John and Linda Stanley, the owners of John Stanley Associates are having a year of awards.
This is the third recognition of their endeavours in the last twelve months. Twelve months ago the couples business was awarded the Small Business Champions Award for Training and Education in Western Australia and John was awarded Small Business Champion Entrepreneur of the Year for Western Australia.
In July the UK horticultural press placed John in the top 100 most influential people in the UK horticultural retail industry; this was for the second year running and he was the only non UK resident in the list.
This latest award is in recognition of the amount of work the couple do outside of Australia helping small businesses to grow and prosper. On the awards presentation night, John and Linda could not be present to accept their award as they are working with retailers in Hungary, Czech and Poland. Their Eastern European work is a combination of conference presentations, consultancy and retail workshops. The couple work in 28 countries on all Continents where businesses exist, they have worked in Czech before, but this is the first time they have worked in Poland and Hungary. Their first trip to Poland has already resulted in four more trips being organised to work with the industry.
You can take a look at their calendar of work on their website www.johnstanley.com.au
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world's leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today announced that Jim Hagedorn has decided to continue to serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. In 2008, Mr. Hagedorn announced his intention to retire as CEO during this fiscal year.
"The success we've seen over the past two years has been exciting, but it really just reinforces how much more opportunity remains for our Company and the lawn and garden category," Hagedorn said. "While I thought I wanted to step aside after I turned 55, I've decided I want to stay engaged in the business and, with the approval of our Board of Directors, intend to do so."
ScottsMiracle-Gro also said that Mark Baker, who was hired as president and chief operating officer two years ago, has departed the Company and the Board of Directors.
"While I will miss the good friends I have made over the past two years, my decision to leave is the right thing for the Company," Baker said. "Jim is a strong and charismatic leader and I continue to share his vision for ScottsMiracle-Gro. I wish him and all 8,000 associates good luck and I am confident in their continued success."
Additionally, Barry Sanders has been named president of the Company, effective immediately.
Sanders joined ScottsMiracle-Gro in 2001, overseeing the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system as well as the consolidation of the North American Consumer business. He later led the sales force in the U.S. and was then promoted to lead the Company's Global Supply Chain. In 2008, Sanders was selected to lead the U.S. Consumer business and, earlier this year, was named executive vice president of the entire Global Consumer segment.
"I am confident that the leadership team here is as strong as we've ever had," Hagedorn said. "Barry has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to drive profitable growth and has repeatedly set a clear direction for his team, and has been tenacious in driving results.
"I also want to acknowledge the important contributions that Mark Baker made to this Company. As President and COO he helped us implement changes that will benefit us for years to come. And the insights he provided during his seven-year tenure on our Board made our discussions more productive and truly helped to guide the vision and strategy of our Company. I look forward to continuing my 20-year friendship with Mark. He leaves us on good terms and I want to thank him for all he has done," Hagedorn said.
It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of a popular and hardworking horticultural colleague. I asked Jim's colleagues in Teagasc for a few words.
“The death has recently taken place of Jim Kelleher, Teagasc Nursery Stock Specialist advisor. Jim was based at Kildalton for a long number of years both as an advisor and lecturer in horticulture. He started his career in County Wicklow where he served in the early 80’s. During his time at Kildalton Jim was seconded to Avonmore/Glanbia where he headed up the emerging forestry division before returning to Kildalton. Jim made a very significant contribution to horticultural development. In January 2010, despite the onset of his illness, Jim was a key driver of plans for the Nursery sector as outlined in the “Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013”. Socially Jim was great company – a renowned raconteur and able musician! Jim will be sadly missed by his clients, colleagues and friends in Teagasc and particularly at Kildalton.
All at Teagasc send our sympathies to Jim’s wife Kathleen and family.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Jim at the National Plant Fair, Punchestown 2009.
Photo: Koraley Northen

John Whelan
The leap in exports was driven by an aggressive 12.8pc growth in merchandise exports, according to the Exporters Association (IEA) third quarter review.Good growth in merchandise and services exports brought total Irish exports for the third quarter to €40.4bn, marking a 9.3pc increase on last year.
The Association’s chief executive John Whelan said the export effort continues to show Ireland the “way out of the recession”.
The review said that merchandise exporters gained from a broadening out of the growth across most of the main international trading markets. Exchange rate competitiveness and continued buoyancy in global trade also assisted the acceleration in export growth.
Whelan said the euro exchange rate with the dollar in the three months toSeptember was, on average, 10pc lower than it was in 2009. “This helped Irish manufactured goods exports to the US rise by 32pc in value,” continued Whelan. “This reversed the losses in exports to that market over the last two years. This indicates clearly that Irish exports are now competitive into the US, provided the US Treasury does not re-enter the currency market to weaken the dollar.”
Whelan added that the exchange rate with sterling also improved during the quarters, helping exports to the UK rise by 4pc. This was particularly important for the indigenous sector which trades heavily to the UK market, said Whelan.
The agri-food sector increased its export sales by 14pc. Services exports grew 4.9pc, a more modest growth than its aggressive pattern in the first half of the year. The Association expects export sales will continued to be strong for the rest of the year, and therefore has revised its forecast for the year to €158.9bn in total exports.
It added that Irish exports could grow faster next year if the Budget 2011 is supportive of the export sector and does not increase the cost of exporting from Ireland. The IEA Pre-Budget Submission outlines the key routes to export expansion that should be supported in the Budget.
Whelan stated that despite the strong overall performance of Ireland exports, it is hard to overstate the difficulties faced by exporters in 2010. He said volatile exchange rates, reduced trade finance for expansion, withdrawal of bank bond guarantees, withdrawal of invoice discounting cover and credit insurance difficulties all are problems which exporters still face.
However, he concluded, “There is clear evidence that exporters can drive their way out of this recession and bring economic growth with it, but it is essential that the upcoming Budget supports export growth and does not increase the cost of doing business in Ireland.”
The UKLA shortlist has been announced and the details on the six finalists are revealed here...
A shortlist of six UK landscapes were announced on 12 October as contenders for the first-ever UK Landscape of the Year soon to be revealed at the Landscape Convention Conference in November…
The six finalists from the transformed heritage coastline in Durham to a bustling city-based network of green spaces in Sheffield, represent the rich variety of work going on the profession today. The shortlist is:
The winning landscape will go on to represent the UK in the European Landscape Award, which takes place in Strasbourg in March 2011.
Commenting on the announcement, Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, said: “Whether you’re in a town or in the countryside there are areas around us that we should rightly be proud of. A good landscape makes us feel part of a community and gives a sense of pride in where we live.”
Helen Phillips, Natural England Chief Executive, was equally emphatic: “All landscapes are important. They form the link between human society and the natural world, and provide vital natural support services – such as food, clean water, climate change regulation, flood prevention and, of course recreation. All six shortlisted landscapes showcase what can be achieved when communities and partners come together to support the landscapes around them.”
Professor Keith Nicholson, a board member of Scottish Natural Heritage says, “We are really pleased to see the Dundee project win the Scottish heat of the award. This project has demonstrated real commitment to sustainable landscape in the local community. Looking after our landscapes is a responsibility shared by everyone. The Dundee project has embraced that responsibility wholeheartedly and we wish it every success in the finals.”
Project profiles: your guide to the UKLA shortlist
Full details of all schemes are available at:uklandscapeaward.org/results
| The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called on the Irish Government to make job retention and development a primary goal of its four-year budgetary policy. Speaking at the publication of the federation's pre-Budget submission, the Director-General Tom Parlon said: "The Government’s fiscal consolidation targets for the next 4 years won’t be achieved without economic and employment growth. If this is to be achieved, the Government has to protect productive spending in the Budget. "The Capital Investment Programme is particularly crucial in this regard. Cutting capital investment again will only serve to further depress economic activity and as has been illustrated over the past two years, put more pressure on the Exchequer as a result of further unemployment. Cutting productive investment is a false economy." Mr Parlon continued: "There are a range of measures that the Minister can introduce, at no cost to the Exchequer, to help support the economy. A good example is stamp duty. Persisting with a high transaction tax when there are no transactions makes no sense, either from the economy’s or the Exchequer’s perspective." "Introducing a 0 per cent stamp duty rate may encourage more interest in commercial and residential property transactions and therefore generate additional incomes for the State," he added. |
The show has now seen a fall of 49.5% since its peak in 2003 (source ABC).
Confusingly, and quite worryingly - official Glee media partner - Hort Week, headlined their story 'Glee hails visitor uplift to 13,000'. I might be missing something (perhaps it's an industry code?) but Glee posted 14,617 in 2009 and only 13,050 in 2010 - a fall of just under 11%?
Hort Week will have to explain how it's come to its conclusion because I don't understand it.
Here's the audited* figures from 2003 to date.
2010* 13,050 (unaudited)
2009 14,617
2008 18,119
2007 22,202
2006 24,530
2005 25,157
2004 24,761
2003 25,886
The Hard Landscaping Show 2011, due to have been opened by journalist Matthew Wilson, has been cancelled after organisers failed to sell enough stand space to make the February 2011 event viable.
Event director, Stephen Callaghan, told DIY Week: "Trading conditions in the landscaping industry remain very tough," and went on, "Many of our major exhibitors are struggling to commit and this has been making it difficult for us to achieve our goal of significantly growing the show for 2011."
Callaghan is proposing that the Hard Landscaping Show will return in February 2012 and has intimated that the event may go to bi-annually.
by Phillip Voice.
More coverage:
Hort Week - Hard Landscaping show postponed until 2012 due to 'tough trading conditions'
The Landscaper Magazine - SHOW MOVES TO 2012
The Hard Landscaping Show website.
As a landscaping and gardening industry analyst, I've been appalled in recent years at the way the landscaping and horticulture industry has largely ignored the end user when organising trade events.
The emphasis has always seemed to have been on the product or services supplier's relationship with the ultimate buyer, and the practitioner - the guys and girls who use machinery and products, day in and day out - too often referred to as 'tyre kickers', are all but forgotten in the development and sales process.
It's time that practitioners' experience knowledge is fed back into development and fine tuning of equipment and machinery because they are the ones who get to know, warts and all, how a piece of equipment feels and responds handles or how a product works, during the course of their work.
The day has arrived whereby the practitioner, rightly, is becoming recognised as the driver of the landscape and garden industry - their opinion, views and advice should be ignored at peril.
Managers have had their time and not made a difference: how can someone who sits at a desk all day possibly know what machine to buy when they are not out in the fields and dealing with conditions underfoot? It's all well and good acting as a middleman and feeding information back to developers but as always, something will always get lost in translation.
Machinery, equipment, product developers and manufacturers should have the opportunity to talk directly with the practitioner: The Landscape Juice Network was the first ever landscape and horticulture professional trade network to bring together everyone from the landscaping and garden world and now we are close to launch of our brand new industry Trade Show called Creating Landscapes.
I guess it's a case, proverbially at least, of putting my money where my mouth is.
If you are a product, equipment, machinery or plant supplier, why not come over and participate in landscaping and gardening's specialist industry event?
I'm delighted to welcome Stephen Ingram to the Landscape Juice Network as part of the Creating Landscapes' team.
Stephen is an independent exhibition and event organiser having previously worked within the event market and have organised the likes of The Royal Smithfield Show, The CLA Game Fair, The National Amateur Gardening Show and The Royal Bath & West of England Show.
For further details, you can email Stephen directly at stephen@hale-events.com Keep an eye out for the official launch.
To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate.
As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.
This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.
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The hedge in your back garden may hold crucial information for scientists assessing the country's biodiversity as the latest 'citizen science' survey by the Open Air Laboratories Project (OPAL) gets under way.
The OPAL team is inviting members of the public to collect as much information as possible about the hedges in back gardens, parks and open spaces all over the country, particularly in urban locations.
'We know quite a lot about hedges in the countryside and how important they are, but how much biodiversity do they contain in cities?' said Jonathan Silvertown, head of the OPAL Biodiversity Observatory. 'They might be even more important in urban areas where natural habitats are more scarce.'
Hedges are already known to support a wide range of life, but the survey hopes to find out which hedges best support insects and small mammals. Participants select a three-metre stretch of hedge and record information about the appearance of the hedge, how many flowers, fruits and nuts it contains, which insects they find there and other evidence of animals using the hedge, such as holes and burrows.
Once results arrive, they are placed on an online map and the survey team rates each hedge according to its importance for wildlife, building up a picture of the state of hedgerows around the country.
The biodiversity survey is the fifth in a series of surveys carried out under the five-year OPAL project, set up in 2007 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. Other projects already under way that you can join in with include:
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has produced a knowledge gaps document 2020 Vision - Improving Ireland’s biodiversity knowledge base as one output from the recent Biodiversity Knowledge Quest event hosted by the Centre. The document provides a brief summary of the biodiversity knowledge gaps workshops and proposes a list of the key knowledge gaps that could be filled over the next 10 years. This document is a consultation document.
Interested parties are invited to make written submissions on the content of the document to info@biodiversityireland.ie. Submissions should be received by Friday 29 October 2010. Feedback is particularly sought on two questions; 1. Would filling of the key knowledge gaps listed in Table 1 make a significant contribution to expanding our knowledge base over the next 10 years? 2. Are there any gaps or errors in the tables presented in Appendix I? The document can be downloaded from http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/Knowledge-Gaps-Document-_for-consultation_.pdf
The Minister reaffirmed his belief that a vibrant Agri-Food Industry is a key part of the Smart Economy and will play a key role in leading our country to better economic times. The Minister said "the importance of research and innovation was emphasised in the Food Harvest 2020 Report as a prerequisite to achieving the growth targets for the agrifood sector. In response to the Report I am therefore delighted to launch these very significant research initaitives".
Over the course of the Spending Review period, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will reduce resource spending by 29% and capital spending by 34%. The Department’s Administration budget will be reduced by 33%.
Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL)
| £ billion | |||||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| Resource DEL | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
| Capital DEL | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| TOTAL DEL | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
In this table Resource DEL excludes depreciation
Defra will reprioritise its spending, focusing tax payer’s money on British farming and food production; enhancing the environment and biodiversity; and supporting a green economy resilient to climate change.
The Department will manage its reductions by:
Maximising the use of matched European funding for the Rural Development Programme for England, enabling a £66m reduction in domestic contributions. This will allow environmental stewardship schemes to remain open to all farmers. Defra will prioritise schemes that will be most beneficial to the environment, increasing the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme by 80%.
Reducing waste and bureaucracy:
Making efficiencies
In addition to the above, the Department will be adopting the following idea, suggested through the Spending Challenge process:
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:
“Our strategic aim is to deliver on the Prime Minister’s pledge that the Coalition will be the greenest Government ever, whilst playing our part in tackling the economic deficit that we have inherited.
“This settlement reflects the need to make significant savings alongside meeting the priorities we have set and maintaining important frontline services in respect of flood defences, environmental protection and animal health monitoring.”
Compost Quality Assurance Scheme Tender
Source: rx3
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Rx3 published a request for tenders for a compost quality assurance scheme on 6th October 2010 on the e–tenders website. The closing date for the procurement process is 16th November 2010.
This proposal is being developed in accordance with the recommendations in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007 - 2011, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Further information and documentation relating to this notice is available on the eTenders Web Site athttp://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT175257

Sleeving, fully automatic taping and the addition of a sachet of Chrysal flower food can also be integrated into the system," states Roland Kroese, the managing director of Bercomex (stand 01.0424). The bunching machine has a modular construction for practically every variety of cut flower, handles 4 stems per second in practice and will be receiving its new name on the first day of the Horti Fair. "We supplied 10,000 systems worldwide in thirty years with its predecessor. The generic bunching machine is a huge leap forward with the integration of new technologies, digitalization and robotics. And it also maintains product quality and uniformity more effectively, besides realizing savings on labour costs,’’ says Kroese.
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Horti Fair Stage: an extra platform for you as well!
The Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre is the new events platform during the coming Horti Fair. For you too perhaps!
Because time slots are still available in the stage diary for company presentations, special gatherings, workshops, demonstrations, product launches and receptions. The Horti Fair Stage will be the theatre for the official opening, prize ceremonies for the Horti Fair Innovation Award, the House of Quality (incl. the Interpolis Quality Cup), the Best Participant Award, the final round of Ranking the Grower, trend demonstrations with flowers and plants, TV recordings for KAS Tuinbouw and the first rounds of the Horti Business Game. No costs are involved if your presentation meets the requirements! So take advantage of this extra Horti Fair platform and send us a mail with your idea or proposal!
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Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Amsterdam RAI are open for the building and fitting out of stands at the following times:
Removal of goods and dismantling of stands for halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be commenced at 19.30 hours on Friday 15 October and continues until 24.00 hours on Saturday 16 October. Check the precise details for your entry in the personal mailing sent by post.