NATURAL CAPITAL: IRELAND’S HIDDEN WEALTH
This coming April 28th and 29th will see the National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin host a conference of utmost importance to the wider horticulture community.
The aim of the conference is to provide a clearer and more positive understanding of natural capital values, using international and national case studies and to encourage and facilitate public and private sectors to initiate the development of accounting systems that value natural capital.
Under EU and national legislation, Ireland is already committed “to assess the economic value of such services, and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020”. But there has been very little general awareness of this commitment to date. Work on this exciting and challenging endeavour is only beginning in Ireland. Some very promising studies have already been done both here and internationally, which unlock hidden wealth in our landscapes. The Natural Capital conference will highlight and advance this important task with government, private and semi-state corporations, national institutions and the general public.
Natural Capital: Ireland’s Hidden Wealth, will host leading international and national figures in this field, including:
● Dr James Aronson, Centre D’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive (CEFE)
● Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute for International and European Affairs
● Micheal O’Briain, Natural Capital Directorate at Environment DG Brussels
● Feargal O Coigligh, Assistant Secretary of the Irish Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.NATURALCAPITALIRELAND.COM
BLOOM’S TICKET SALES PROMOTION GETS UNDERWAY
The countdown to Bloom has started in earnest with a ‘Mothers Day Ticket Promotion’ to its 17,000 Club Bloom members. Bloom generates €5.5 million in sales during the five days, with the average adult spending €75 during that period. This year’s show will run from Thursday 29th May to Monday 2nd June. See bloominthepark.com for more details. And for those of you who get excited by numbers, here are the facts and figures for 2013.
ATTENDANCE
● Thursday 14,393
● Friday 17,103
● Saturday 21,567
● Sunday 30,887
● Monday 26,812
Total 110,762
VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS
● Male: 25%
● Female: 75%
● Accompanied by children: 19% ✽
Fiann Ó Nuallάin to publish ‘The Holistic Gardener: First Aid from the Garden’
A handy guide to quick and effective first aid treatments for commonly occurring accidents and complaints, derived from garden, pantry and under-sink sources. From a thorn prick to heatstroke, from chapped hands to heart attack, from pesticide poisoning to wasp stings: all of these can be treated on-site with what you grow. The resources are on your doorstep: the plant beside you as your work or relax in the garden can be the answer to hives, aches or watery eyes. It is written by a professional gardener with a lifetime’s experience of accidents that can happen in the garden and of how to cure or respond to them using plants and items at hand in the garden. All the dots are joined, you won’t need a book on herbs, a book on homemade remedy preparations or a plant reference – they are all combined in the first aid advice in this book. Available in May. Order in advance online from www.mercierpress.ie €12.99. ✽
SUPERNEMOS UP FOR 2014 AWARDOnce again Nemos.ie tops the list of nominations for the Green Awards being shortlisted for the Supply Chain Management Award and the Product of the Year Award. Dr. Abdul Al-Amidi has been shortlisted for this year’s Green Leader Award. His biopesticide invention called SuperNemos, which simplifi es plant and crop protection, not just in the garden but also across the horticultural industry. Giving the consistent comfort of zero crop losses, his invention has kept many of Ireland’s soft fruit growers in business and is one of the few Irish products listed in Ireland’s fi ve star Garden Centres. ✽ GLDA PROMOTING NEW CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGESThe Garden & Landscape Designers Association (GLDA) has launched a corporate membership package aimed at suppliers of products and services to the landscape sector. It will offer businesses in the landscape industry an opportunity to be included in the GLDA Designer’s Handbook which is currently under production. The book will be available on the association’s website, and a hard copy will be available for members and other interested parties involved in landscape design, garden design, horticulture, construction industries and academia. Enquiries to info@glda.ie ✽ NEW MAINTENANCE DIVISION FOR RICHARD SHORTALL LANDSCAPE DESIGNRichard Shortall’s Dublin based landscape company continues to grow and has recently formed a new division with a team focusing purely on maintenance services. His company is one of a number of companies feeling confi dent enough to take on new staff and is currently advertising a job for a landscape professional on JobsInHorticulture.ie A further sign that the landscape sector continues to recover. Richard tells HC, he has been busy with plenty of new work coming in and wants to expand his team to allow him to concentrate on bringing in more new design and hard landscape business. ✽ |
€1 MILLION INVESTMENT AT JOHNSTOWN GARDEN CENTRE AS ONLINE GROWTH CONTINUES
The centre has recently completed a major investment that includes an extensive new restaurant and an increase in shop floor space to 40,000 square feet. The investment also means the creation of 15 new jobs. Online sales are continuing to grow for the business, which was one of the early adopters of garden retail eCommerce. Centre Director Jim Clarke explained that their online investment has increased sales and also provided creator insight into customer buying habits. “50% of customers now research their product online before visiting us. The online store allows customers to browse at their leisure regardless of the weather”. ✽
KILSARAN LAUNCHES NEW ‘DIARMUID GAVIN’ PAVING RANGE
Following a €30 million investment in new paving production facilities in 2009, Kilsaran International has announced an exclusive collaboration with Irish celebrity garden designer, Diarmuid Gavin, to design and produce a high-end bespoke range of contemporary paving products and accessories.
The extensive range will comprise paving flags, kerb edgings and accessories and is aimed at both homeowners and commercial landscapers looking for aesthetically design-led paving schemes. Combining over 50 years of Kilsaran expertise with Diarmuid’s unique, trademark style the collection will be available in a range of designer colours and finishes. Speaking about the new range, Diarmuid said: “I have long been impressed by the Kilsaran commitment to innovation and quality and am really delighted and excited to join their team. We have been busy working together at impressive facilities for some months, developing a product range which both reflects current outdoor trends and adds some totally new ideas into the mix. Our aim is to excite the consumer with the new potential of paving!” There is also word that Diarmuid is currently developing a new range of ‘DG’ plants with a leading Irish independent garden centre. With his new focus on the Irish market, might we see Diarmuid raising his profi le even further by going for gold at Bloom sometime soon? ✽
SCHOOLS SPRING INTO ACTION FOR GARDEN SHOW!
Thursday 20th March represents the first official day of spring and schools from all over Northern Ireland are springing into action preparing for a number of gardening challenges at this year’s Garden Show Ireland event which takes place in Antrim Castle Gardens from 9th to 11th May 2014.
Pupils from Ballycraigy Primary School in Antrim are just some of those busy working on designs for the Schools Garden Challenge, Scarecrow Square and the Edible Containers Competition – all of which are sponsored by long term supporter of the Show – Allianz. The theme of the 2014 Allianz Schools Garden Challenge is ‘An Edible Garden’ and teams are invited from schools and colleges to design and build a garden to be displayed at Garden Show Ireland in May, with the winning school receiving a trip for 30 pupils to the Omniplex by courtesy of Junction One. New for 2014, primary schools are invited to design ‘An Edible Garden in a Container’ with the winning schools receiving a Buzzy Bees Gardening Kit and trees kindly provided by College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE, formerly known as Greenmount College).
The show will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm with parking adjacent. Admission for adults is £10 (concession £8) and the event is FREE for children under 16. There is a reduced rate for online bookings.
For more information visit www.gardenshowireland.com ✽
HERB GARDEN LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF IRISH ORGANIC SEEDS
One of Ireland’s few certified organic herb producers, The Herb Garden is delighted to announce the launch of a new range of Irish Certified Organic herb seeds. The new range will include a diverse range of rare and unusual species and will target both novices and experts. The announcement coincides with an investment in the company’s online presence and eCommerce offer. To learn more visit www.theherbgarden.ie ✽
TURNING THE SOD ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF IRISH GARDENERS
Gardening activity is underrepresented in Irish media. Beyond the few cornerstone columnists in the broadsheets, and one or two related TV shows, there really is very little to encourage the non-gardener to get involved. While many in the industry are content to complain or simply wait for things to happen, there are a few folks who are willing to invest their personal time and money to communicate the wider benefits of gardening and horticulture in an Irish context. One of the hardest workings of the few is North County Dublin contractor, Peter Donegan. Having started a landscape blog back when the internet was run on coal, he developed The Sod Show, a podcast that was subsequently picked up by Dublin City FM. “Within our first year a nice moment came when Irish company Greensax decided to sponsor the show,” says Peter. That was three years ago and since then Peter has built a huge following and a number of awards for his work. “It was a very proud moment when The Sod Show won Ireland’s Best Podcast in 2012 and an even prouder one when it won again in 2013”.
Such promotion of garden activity often goes unnoticed and unrewarded by the wider industry, but it is this type of grass roots activity that will help to create the next generation of plant buyers. “Whilst it is landscaping that still pays the bills, The Sod Show is life, and I guess it wasn’t the worst thing I ever created.” He may well joke, but the work involved in creating and delivering the weekly show is no laughing matter.
As for the future, The Sod Show will continue to go from strength to strength. “I’m committed to promoting Irish horticulture and products via the airwaves and the net. I would encourage others to follow suit as stimulating interest in horticulture is in all our interest”.
The Sod Show goes out live every Friday afternoon at 3 pm on 103.2 FM and covers all manner of horticultural topics. If you would like further information, think you have a product or service of interest or think you might be able to support the show, visit www.sodshow.com ✽
THE SAP GROUP FUTURE PROOFS ITS BUSINESSThe SAP group was established in 1971. Since then, the company has grown to be Ireland’s largest supplier of trees, shrubs and landscaping services and employs more than 175 people. It now comprises SAP Nurseries, SAP Landscapes, SAP Grounds Maintenance and SAP Holland. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, the landscaping and horticulture group SAP gave a rundown of how the downturn affected them in 2007. At the time it employed over 200 people and had €17 million annual turnovers. Core to that turnover was its paving section which accounted for €13 million a year. They realised they would have to act fast in order to survive. SAP Landscapes MD, Geoff Moran said they made the decision to close it down. He was quoted in the interview as saying “One of the ways we dealt with the property crash was by restricting our construction activity and relationship with contractors. There were an awful lot of bad debts in the industry so we reduced our exposure to that”. A new focus was put into the landscape-maintenance business which resulted in creating and offering a dedicated winter maintenance service to their clients. They invested €1 million in new machinery and now operate a fleet of snow ploughs and salt spreading machines. They provide a daily forecasting service and maintain 68 retail sites, 50 business parks and 30 other businesses. In 2012, that business was worth €480,000 a year in turnover. In 2010, the group went online with the establishment of e-SAP. The website provides wholesale customers with access to 35,000 trees, plant and shrub lines, real-time availability and a choice of specifi cation according to the client’s budget. The site was one of the first portals in Europe to offer the trade buyer real-time choice and availability. More recently the company launched a new online business, giftofatree. ie Interestingly, in the interview he revealed “A few months ago we started work on a new residential scheme. It is our first new residential project since 2009. Maybe that’s a signal of the end of the recession”. ✽ |
GREENTECH 2014: WELCOMING THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE TECHNOLOGY TO AMSTERDAM
GreenTech 2014, the international trade fair for horticulture technology, will open its doors from 10th to 12th June in Amsterdam and will focus on product technology for food and ornamental horticulture. GreenTech will also feature a comprehensive range of innovations (with awards to match) and a unique blend of exhibitions and excursions.
Professional flower and vegetable growers from around the world will descend on Amsterdam in June, one of the nicest times of the year to visit this iconic city. And with over 90% of exhibition space already booked – almost half by international companies – visitors to GreenTech 2014 can expect a return on their investment in time and money.
“There is no international business-to-business show with such an all-encompassing overview of horticultural technology,” says exhibition manager Mariska Dreschler. “Professionals cannot afford to not come to Amsterdam this June as, uniquely, every production technology involved in flowers and vegetables will be featured at GreenTech. By production technology we mean the technology – in the broadest sense of the word – that is deployed in plant production from seed to tomato or primrose. Dutch companies are among the leaders in this area and GreenTech will serve a broad international platform where the Dutch sector can present itself as the forerunner it is, but to and learn from international market leaders”.
On the menu at GreenTech
The 10,000-plus visitors to GreenTech 2014 will be international producers in horticulture and floriculture, professionals focused on processing, marketing and training, investors and government representatives. They will share knowledge in interactive and topical workshops and seminars with over 250 exhibiting companies from around the world, including producers and importers of:
● Water: systems, treatment, irrigation and management
● Energy: systems, production, supply and management
● Biobased: production, processing and products
● R&D, propagation and breeding
● Greenhouse construction, design and climate
● Machinery, equipment and internal logistics
● Pesticides, fertilisers and preparates
● Potting soil and substrates
● Horticultural supplies, containers, trays and pots
● Knowledge and services ✽
AQUAFLOR REPORTS RECOVERY IN FLORIST SECTOR
Arjan Van Veen of Aquaflor Flowers Direct is reporting a definite improvement in the florist sector, especially in the larger urban areas. Arjan was probably in the know about the demise of the Celtic Tiger long before the rest of us as sales of cut flowers in Ireland started showing a slow decline in 2006. He tells HC that he is now in sustained growth again. ✽
MAJOR REBRAND, REFURBISHMENT AND EXPANSION INVESTMENT FOR ARBORETUMFollowing the recent expansion of its restaurant, Arboretum has made a major investment to upgrade across the plant and lifestyle areas. The investment also includes a complete rebrand both in-store and on-line at www.arboretum.ie, investing in both the food and e-commerce spaces is akin to taking out a clever insurance policy against the Irish weather. ✽ |
WIT OFFERING TO UPGRADE YOUR OLDER HORTICULTURE QUALIFICATION TO DEGREE LEVEL
Waterford Institute of Technology’s advanced transfer facility is now accepting applications. This facility allows students who have previously studied horticulture to be considered for entry into year 2 (or even year 3) of WIT’s horticulture degree. The application process is not via the CAO but directs to the college instead. Prospective students can study at the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin or in Waterford or Kilkenny. WIT also offers a range of add-on courses to upgrade your level 7 degree to level 8 (Hons.).
Apply by 31st May for a September 2014 start. ✽
NEW FACILITIES COMING SOON FOR ITB HORTICULTURE
The construction phase of ITB’s new teaching facility for horticulture is nearing completion and the buildings should be available for use in teaching the students shortly. The facility will be in full operation for the new academic year beginning in September 2014. This will provide a modern facility for teaching and demonstrating the essential practical skills required throughout the horticulture industry and an opportunity for students to put into practice the knowledge and science acquired in the classroom. The scope for more investigative final year projects in the future will be greatly enhanced by the provision of a range of different growing environments in the polytunnels and geodomes. Allotments will allow the growth of fruit and vegetables and a series of experimental and demonstration plots will facilitate the students in studying the establishment, growth and maintenance of Turfgrass. ✽
