Summer came to an abrupt halt for horticulture in mid-September with profound rainfall, winds and colder temperatures throughout the country. Autumn has certainly arrived.
None of this dampened our video conference AGM, which was a resounding success with almost 50 members joining this Zoom session that had been postponed from April. We will repeat our postponed Yorkshire AGM in April 2021 in conjunction with the North of England Horticultural Society show at Harrogate. Hopefully there will be no need for a video conference next year, but we have experienced success and can tackle the subject again without any trepidation.
At the video conference AGM I was also delighted to award the ‘President’s Prize’ to our very own Editor of the Journal of Horticulture, Barbara Segall. Barbara has been editor for over 20 years and continues to provide us with an improved Journal every quarter. Her contribution is significant and deserving of wide recognition. Congratulations Barbara!
Also at the AGM we celebrated the Fellowship nominations of George Gilchrist and Ted Smith and I was delighted that they were attending and able to hear their citations. In addition we also awarded Chartered status to Simon Jones, Mark Pollard, Alex Brotherton, Ian Li and Duncan Thomas. Chartership is a notable achievement for any professional and my congratulations to all. I was also delighted to welcome three new Trustees to our Council in the shape of Phil Pearson, Group Development Director of APS Salads, James Simpson MD of Adrian Scripps (Top Fruit grower) and Angela Evans former secretary of the CIHort and Chair of our South East branch.
Following the AGM on Thursday the 24th of September, we had a splendid ‘James Bruce Lecture’ from Dr Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex. This video conference was attended by an amazing number of 132 and with no background noise or conversation nor any interruptions throughout the whole presentation; such was the spell that Dr Goulson had put on his audience. The audience hung on to every word of Dr Gouslon and he gave much advice on insect activity in the garden jungle and provided some sage words on improving habitats in the garden. A great evening was had by all who dialled into this presentation.
Horticulture now moves into an uncertain period in quarter 4 with little knowledge of what the new year will bring in terms of supply chain and logistics in quarter 1. Most of the materials that we utilise in horticulture are manufactured overseas and we are largely a horticulture country of consumption and not of producing. Only Germany has greater consumption of Horticulture produce than the UK and our materials are largely manufactured outside the country. The reach and desire for horticulture goods is far and wide; Ornamentals from the Netherlands, Salads from Kenya, Tomatoes from Italy, Berries from North Africa, Vegetables from France, Apples from Poland, Table Grapes from South Africa, Trees from Germany, Fertiliser from Belgium, Irrigation from Israel, Pots from Germany, Peat substitutes from Sri Lanka, Peat from Ireland, Mushrooms from Ireland, Citrus from Spain and Protected Edibles from the Netherlands in 2021; the list is endless.
I do hope our government is prepared to reach a trade agreement with the EU thereby ensuring a smooth exit from Europe in January. The last thing we need in January is port, tariff and logistics chaos on top of Covid and I do hope our Irish cousins are able to accommodate us while we sort out the future!
Gerald Bonner CHort, FCIHort
PRESIDENT
president@horticulture.org.uk