I have just visited the Garden press Event held at The Royal horticultural Halls in Westminster.
There were 63 stands and the event is billed as key companies within the Industry showing what plants and products are new.
As for all shows, trade or public, they are only as successful as the stands that are there, writes Claudia de Yong.
There seemed to be an eclectic mix of stands this year. Trusted favourites like David Austen Roses were there with a range of new English Roses for the coming year.
Harrod Horticulture were promoting their Grow Your Own products as well as choice of pest controls which seemed to feature highly with other stands at the show. Indeed, Eco Charlie’s products have increased from the original caffeine waste alternative slug killer, to cat deterrents, bee attractant seeds and even lovely simple hessian sacks , all environmentally packaged.
New ideas were a garden on a roll. The idea here is to be supplied with plants to put in your beds on top of a pre-designed roll of paper which tells you where to put them acting as a template. There is a wide range of border styles and I suppose it may catch on for some people.
The allotment ladder company have taken an old idea and turned it into a new must have product for anyone who has limited space but wants to grow vegetables or flowers. They are made of wood and there is a freestanding or a fixed version. Tiered shelving which can be painted ,in different heights on which you can put your pots.
Access Garden products that only deal direct, had a new cold frame with sliding glass panels which sits on top of a raised wooden bed allowing soil to be added to the bed improving fertility.
Ryobi were featuring their new Garden Power tools, notably the pressure washer with HydroSurge technology and blower vacs with dual-action PowerMulching blades. All very technical!
Vectorworks had a stand displaying the product and a screen showing how to use the programme. Sutton Seeds had a selection of flower and vegetable plants to ‘ beat the Credit Crunch’.
Crocus, the online shop for plants , were highlighting their other range of products such as terracotta pots and furniture. I had an interesting talk to the founder Peter Clay who also told me how Crocus is buying from smaller nurseries helping to keep them going and also making it easier for the designer/landscaper to find more unusual plants under one roof.
Some of the other stands included those that promoted Plant Heritage, The National Garden Scheme, Beth Chatto Gardens who are celebrating 50 years this year and The HTA.
Overall, it was interesting to attend although a little on the thin side in terms of exciting new products. I perhaps should have stayed for lunch but with parking prices in Westminster, I made do with a Quality Street Toffee on the admissions desk as I left. Now I’m starving!
Website: Garden Press Event
Claudia de Yong Designs
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