Through an interactive, collaborative stand at the front and centre of the show, the sector, the impact it has and the jobs within it were showcased among the worlds of medicine, engineering, agriculture and many others at the event, which attracted a 26,000-plus audience at the London Excel Centre.
More than 5,000 cards were given away at the horticulture industry’s Green Innovators exhibit to schoolchildren, students, teachers and career changers.
The exhibit featured the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, BALI, Q&S Landscaping, Provender Nurseries, Fusion Media (GroundsFest) and Ginger Horticulture, with the HTA sponsoring the Young People in Horticulture Association to help staff the event. The organiser was HortWeek’s Christina Walker.
Designed to inspire young people and families interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the interactive exhibit highlighted the exciting career opportunities in horticulture and the vital role the industry plays in tackling climate change, supporting biodiversity and advancing plant science.
“This fantastic partnership demonstrates how our sector is coming together to raise the profile of horticulture and inspire the next generation of horticulturists,” said Walker.
“Everyone was so interested. The show was so reaffirming. We represented all parts of the industry and every part was as popular as each other. The story behind the Wollemi pine [from HSK] was a massive crowd-puller. People were getting their hands dirty in Melcourt’s growing media as well as taking cuttings.”
Q&S Landscaping managing director Sue Payne told HortWeek students showed great interest in environmental science careers. “There was much more engagement than I expected,” she added.
Ben Tea, glasshouse manager and technical grower for protected horticulture at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), showed off grow lights from TCE Electrical. “We use machine learning, AI, drones,” he said.
“It’s not just a tactile industry anymore. At NIAB we’re planning for future food security, rice, lentils, chickpeas. That’s what the future is.”
Floramedia provided stickers and Fothergill’s supplied seeds.
Typical questions put to panellists, such as Kew head of tree collections Kevin Martin and The Royal Parks head gardener Fiona Packe, were about what qualifications to take and whether to specialise early on.
New Scientist Live
Video reports recorded at the event by HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby.
