I have been lucky enough to have played a small part on the steering committee for the Contact ’09 Conference along with, Steve Reed, Charles Carr, Victoria Watson, Jill England and Jonathan Whittemore. Skilfully Chaired by Rebbeca Grant and well organised by Innes Mathieson and Sam Gunston of the HTA was held last week in Bromsgrove. Working together for future profits was the theme.

As always it was well attended by delegates from some of the top UK HNS growers and the likes of Will George and David Gilchrist, who I believe have attended every single Contact since its beginning in 1998 and the quality program of speakers and workshops were thought provoking and gave delegates many ideas to go home with.

My own session, which was on the Friday morning, was of course based around plant supply and inevitably new plants, and how they figure in the supply chain.

I showed images of some of the new varieties that The association of Liner Producers are working on either as individuals or as a group (remember the conference theme!)

Fairweather’s xHeucherella Tapestry (see earlier blog), Westend’s Thysanotus Frilly Knickers, Our Cordyline Pink Passion, Northern Liners Cordyline Firecracker and Newplace were heading up ALP launches in the form of Choisya White Dazzler and Lophomyrtus Black Pearl, both British Bred by Peter Moore and Steve Yandall respectively. I will cover these in the near future.

Arno Engels was the first speaker of the session. Arno is the Editor of De Boomkwekerij, which is the leading Dutch trade magazine and gave an insight of the Dutch HNS industry and how it is coping with the current €/£ exchange rate, this has led to a reduction in exports to the UK and an increase Eastwards to Germany, Poland and Russia. This surely must create a vacuum which can be filled by UK growers.

Innovative mechanisation also figured heavily in the Dutch production, as did their culture of working together.

Pat Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Nurseries in Ireland followed with a superb presentation on his particular model of new plant introduction and branding which follows product through to the final customer. This proactive approach and integrated plant marketing model has led to the success of several varieties including Libertia Goldfinger and Phormium Black Adder.

Tim Clapp is Category Manager for Horticulture at Wyevale Garden Centres and he finished the session with a comprehensive view of what the retailers expect from their suppliers.

New plant promotions he said were an important part of overall plant sales, but there needs to be a more structured approach, better photography and more communication to the gardening journalists prior to launch.