Tag Archives: HTA

HTA to hold study tour to Netherlands

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has arranged a study tour to the Netherlands from 8–10  February 2017.

As well as an exclusive tour of the Dutch design company Elho head office the tour will include visits to some creative garden centres, alongside the 6th edition of the Garden Retail Experience event in Boskoop, including the event’s gala dinner.

The study tour group will also attend The Auction in Aalsmeer, with a behind the scenes look at the workings of the famous clock from former buyer Paul Moors, Garden Centre Fresh and a guided tour from FloraHolland giving an overview of the whole process.

HTA Event co-ordinator Alexa Stillwell comments “The trip promises to be an exciting and educational experience and our retailers are really looking forward to being inspired and bringing home lots or ideas and concepts to try in their own stores.”

If you are interested in joining the tour or want to find out more, contact events@hta.org.uk.

Photo Caption: Attendees at Garden Retail Experience (TREx) 2016

Photo Credit: TREx

The post HTA to hold study tour to Netherlands appeared first on Hort News.

HTA to continue ‘Plant of the Moment’ for 2017

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced that its successful ‘Plant of the Moment’ campaign will continue through 2017.

Launched at the start of last year, the consumer campaign was designed to run for two years from January 2016 to December 2017. Month by month this promotional plant calendar highlights planting ideas as well as plants at their best to help customers create gardens that are full of colour and interest throughout the year.

The campaign includes a calendar of themes, such as creating a winter wonderland and ‘berried’ treasure, which was designed in collaboration with consultant and journalist Adam Pasco and agreed with UK growers and retailers.

For 2017 the campaign begins with a winter wonderland theme including the top four plants for producing winter flowers: Witch Hazel (Hamamelis varieties); Oregon Grape (Mahonia varieties); Winter Flowering Viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense) and Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger).

Photo Caption: Witch hazel is one of the highlighted plants for January

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The post HTA to continue ‘Plant of the Moment’ for 2017 appeared first on Hort News.

HTA and NFU set out Brexit positions

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and Horticultural Trades Association have set out their positions ahead of the UK’s referendum on whether to remain in the European Union.

After what it described as ‘a full consultation with all members’ in March the HTA has declared a neutral position. After attracting responses from 169 members (around 12 per cent of the total), there was no majority in favour of any of the three proposals (leaving, staying and remaining neutral) and based on that HTA will remain neutral.

HTA Chief Executive Carol Paris comments, “From the good response rate to our survey and comments sent members are interested in the EU referendum and its impact. With views across the spectrum adopting a neutral position ensures that the HTA doesn’t alienate the views of members. Working with other organisations we will endeavour to provide a balanced picture of the pros and cons in the lead up to the vote on 23 June.”

In contrast the NFU has joined other UK Farming Unions in saying that it believed the industry would be better served if the UK remained in the EU. In a statement it said, ‘The NFU recognises and respects the diversity of views among its membership. The NFU’s position is based solely on an evaluation of the agricultural merits of the case and the NFU is fully aware there are many wider issues at stake. The NFU will not be actively campaigning in the referendum; it will not be joining with any campaign groups and it will not, in any circumstances, advise its members how to vote.’

In an interview NFU president Meurig Raymond said, “We believe it’s for the betterment of the future of British agriculture. On all the surveys we have done in the NFU, the majority believe that we should stay in.”

However, in a poll of 350 farmers alongside Farming Online news articles in February, 50% of respondents favoured leaving the EU, whilst 34% said they would choose to remain.

Photo Credit: HTA

The post HTA and NFU set out Brexit positions appeared first on Hort News on 22 April 2016.

HTA welcomes Sunday trading moves

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has welcomed comments by the Chancellor George Osborne during the budget suggesting that Sunday trading laws could be relaxed.

The HTA hopes that such moves will allow all retail businesses, including garden centres, to trade on a level playing field. HTA CEO Carol Paris said, “This could really benefit the horticultural sector as a whole and is one of the ‘asks’ of Government in the recently published industry wide ‘Ornamentals Action Plan’. The HTA has been lobbying on Sunday trading for over two decades now and we are delighted that at last moves are being taken to remove this outdated piece of legislation.”

She added, “This is all about choice – choice for the public to shop when they would like and choice for garden retailers to open when they like. With online trading allowing people to shop 24/7 it is ridiculous that someone can sit and eat in a garden centre restaurant (which are exempt from the law) on a Sunday and order garden product online but not actually purchase products in store. Gardening continues to be one of the nation’s favourite pastimes and weekends are typically when more time is spent on doing outdoor projects and so a relaxation of the law will no doubt provide a welcome boost to trade.”

The post HTA welcomes Sunday trading moves appeared first on Hort News.