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British Horticulture - Page 14

Tough start for salads growers as gas prices soar
British Horticulture

High gas prices, poor growth and low demand have meant a tough start to the season for glasshouse salad growers. "Gas prices have gone through the roof and glasshouse growers are tearing their hair out," according to glasshouse crops consultant and Cucucmber Growers Association technical director Derek Hargreaves. "Tomatoes haven't got going yet. Everything's about two weeks behind. Cucumbers are probably worse - growers have only grown 50 per cent of what they had this time last year." He explained: "At this time of year, you are likely to have restrictions on how much gas you can use, but then you don't expect to have to use so much. As a result, gorwers aren't achieving the temperatures they need." For more on this story see next Friday's edition of Horticulture Week.
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Horticulture British

Market statistics show polarisation
British Horticulture

Further evidence of what it calls "market polarisation" of the grocery sector has come from Kantar Worldpanel's latest figures for the 12 weeks ending 17 March.
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British Horticulture UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

100-day countdown to first stage of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opening
British Horticulture

In just 100 days the first stage of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will open to visitors - including 102ha of open space. The 23ha North Park occupies the same place as the Olympic Park s wildflower park and has been designed to be a wildlife haven. It will feature otter holts, frog ponds and bat and bird boxes as well as around 3,300 trees, 116,000 shrubs, 720,000 herbaceous plants, 200,000m species rich meadow and 36,000m of new turf. Around 800,000 bulbs will also be planted. Tier 1 contractor for the whole site is Bam Nuttall with Frosts operating as Tier 2 contractors, responsible for most of the landscape and public realm aspects. Sheffield University s Wildlife Meadow Consultants will also be adding its expertise. London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The long term future of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is bright, dispelling the fears of white elephants and tumbleweed. "We are on track to deliver a lasting legacy for Londoners." North Park is part of a 292m construction programme to transform the area from an arena of sporting excellence to a long-term mixed-use for the local community and visitors, will be the first part of the site to open again to the public. The rest will open in phases until spring next year. The works, undertaken by The London Legacy Development Corporation, are among the largest in Europe, and include an arena, a caf with community space, a school and 2,818 homes and are planned to take 10 years. A number of large scale events are planned at the park this summer including Sainsbury's London Anniversary Games in July, on the anniversary of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, music festivals Hard Rock Calling, The Summer Stampede and Yahoo! Wireless Festival and specialist children s festival Lollibop.
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Page 14 Horticulture British

Fresh-produce marketer David Riggs dies after illness
British Horticulture

Retired fresh-produce marketer David Riggs died peacefully on Easter Sunday after a short illness.
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Horticulture British

Berry Gardens Growers maintains profits despite poor growing conditions in 2012
British Horticulture

Berry Gardens Growers profits were the same in 2012 as the previous year despite the season s poor weather. Paul Kelsey, chairman of the soft fruit grower co-operative, revealed at its 41st annual general meeting on April 29 that the business had performed well during 2012 "in spite of wet and cold weather in the UK which created a challenging production and marketing environment for both soft and stone fruit". He added: "Profits were held at the previous year s level and sales were the second highest reported by the society - with the co-operative benefitting in particular from the work done over previous year s to grow its counter season business. He added that Berry Gardens members are receiving rebate payments in the region of 3 million. He said: "From 2013, rebate payments will be made during May, to help members manage their pre-season cash flow." Looking ahead, Kelsey said that the future of the co-operative is secure. He said: "Berry Gardens and our partner Driscoll s, continue our commitment to industry-leading investment in plant breeding to help deliver an improved varietal offer. We are therefore delighted with the agreement reached in 2012 to extend our partnership arrangements with Driscoll s on an extended basis." "This combined with the funding of both our own and wider industry research projects, will be essential in maintaining our industry leading varietal offering, reducing the costs of production and increasing productivity for our membership. This commitment to our grower s future is unparalleled within our industry." "As a result, although the economic environment remains uncertain, I am confident that our co-operative model will continue to deliver the best proposition to consumers, retailers and most importantly of all to our growers."
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British Horticulture

Fruit business hanging in the balance after planners reject bid to retain polytunnels
British Horticulture

A soft-fruit grower is in danger of going out of business after Herefordshire County Council's planning committee voted against his plans to retain his polytunnels.
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British Horticulture - Page 14

Chelsea show garden to go to new Bristol tourist attraction
British Horticulture

Wild Place, Bristol s new tourist attraction due to open this summer, will become home to the FERA Stop the Spread show garden once it has finished displaying at this year s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The garden contrasts the beauty of a British garden with the potentially damaging effects plant pests, diseases and invasive non-native species could have on our natural environment. Eddie Mole, head of horticulture at Wild Place, said: "There is a great synergy between the ethos of Wild Place and the Stop the Spread garden. Conservation is at the heart of what we do and the Chelsea Flower Show garden reinforces this message. "We are honoured to be able to provide a home for Stop the Spread and we eagerly await its reception when Wild Place launches this summer." The garden was created by garden designer Jo Thompson, who said: "I m delighted the garden will have a new home after Chelsea and many more people will be able to experience it for years to come. "I ve designed Stop the Spread for the Food and Environment Agency to creatively show what impact plant pests, diseases and invasive non-native species can have on our environment now and for future generations. "I hope the garden will lead to people changing their behaviour through simple actions such as the careful buying of plants and large specimen trees and shrubs from trusted growers and making sure any unwanted plants are composted carefully never dumped in the wild." Wild Place will open its doors to the public this summer with the 10 metres x 12 metres Stop the Spread garden already in-situ. Wild Place will also be home to a host of animals such as zebra, eland, okapi and lemurs.
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British Horticulture Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO - Page 14

Geranium Rozanne Wins RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Centenary
British Horticulture

Geranium Rozanne ( Gerwat ) representing 1993-2002 has been chosen by the public as RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Centenary.Over seven thousand people cast their vote online, choosing from a shortlist compiled from the RHS Lindley Library archives of the ten best plants launched at the show since 1913, one for each decade.The competition celebrates the enduring appeal of plants that made their debut at the Chelsea Flower Show. Almost 50% of the vote went to five plants representing the decades between 1913 and 1962.Runner up Lupinus Russell hybrids, from 1939, was beaten by a very small margin.Geranium Rozanne ( Gerwat ) was first exhibited at the show in 2000. Tall and fast-growing, with violet-blue flowers streaked with red, it is one of the best known hardy geranium cultivars.Colin Crosbie, curator at RHS Garden Wisley and a member of the panel which selected the shortlist of ten said; "Good plants will remain popular and today s result confirms the lasting impact that those plants deemed worthy of being launched at Chelsea have had on the gardening world."
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