Annual Review Sept 2010 - Aug 2011

tomato flower

Conferences
A number of meetings were organised during the year covering a variety of topics that relate to horticultural aspects of the chemical industry in the UK and Europe. Notable among these was the Medicinal Plants Conference organised jointly by the Horticulture and Bioresources Groups which attracted a large attendance. Alison Foster led for the Horticulture Group; Richard Wilkins for Bioresources. A report of the conference appeared in our May Newsletter.

The group also collaborated with other Agri-Food Groups in planning a conference on Biofortified and Functional Food – Healthy Options in May 2011.

Special Events
In mid-May, the group held a Question and Answer session on a special Forum entitled Ask a Horticultural Scientist, inviting questions about the science of horticulture (as opposed to gardening hints and tips). A total of 17 questions were received and answered. More

To honour the contribution to the setting up of the Horticulture Group made by David Miller MBE, who died in May 2010, the group has instituted an award in his name. The David Miller Award will annually recognise the achievements and communication skills of a student of Horticulture in higher education. More

At the Society's Annual General Meeting in July 2011, Prof Jeff Moorby was voted on to the Membership Affairs Committee. Peter and Sue Grimbly jointly received a Distinguished Service Award, for their contribution to the setting up and continuing support of the SCI Horticulture Group. Peter also continues to serve on the Finance and Investment Advisory Committee.

Meetings
In conjunction with the committee meeting in July, Alison Foster showed attendees round the Oxford Botanic Garden. The new medicinal plants beds were a special attraction, with each focusing on a specific area of medicine such as treatment of cancers, infectious diseases etc. A visit to Worcester College, led by head gardener Simon Bagnall, showed how a college garden landscape had changed over 300 years, with the exception of the lawn in the main quad, which has been maintained over the same period as an unfailing emerald sward. (August 2011 newsletter)

The Group has maintained its links with the Professional Horticulturists' Group (South West) and members attended several joint meetings, reported in the Newsletter:

  • Abbotsbury Gardens and Michaud Pepper Nursery - Oct 2010
  • Developments in Biocontrol - Mar 2011
  • Bristol Botanic Garden - Aug 2011

News
The Group's monthly Newsletter remains informative, widely circulated and well received, and, like all the group's webpages, is open to all (link below). This success is down to the willingness of members and others to contribute articles. Thanks go to all these contributors, but once again, particular mention must be made of Alison Foster who regularly contributes her 'Plant of the Month' and 'Medicinal Plant of the Month', and to Sue Grimbly who scours the internet in search of topical news items to maintain the Group's Twitter and Facebook pages as well as the Horticulture Industry News in the Newsletters.

In addition to reports on meetings noted above, the following lead articles appeared:

  • Cantello Nurseries - tomatoes and peppers - Sept 2010
  • When East Meets West: Growing the Asian Link - Nov 2010
  • Strong Poisons - Dec 2010
  • Nagaoya Biodiversity Summit and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation - Jan 2011
  • How the Eden Project Evolved - Feb 2011
  • Horticulture in Adversity - growing on Lanzarote - Apr 2011
  • Medicinal Plants: From Crop to Cure - May 2011
  • Mangroves in the Northern Territory of Australia and Fiji - Jun 2011
  • Oxford Gardens - Worcester College and Oxford Botanic Garden - Aug 2011

Plant of the Month included:

  • Cornflower - Centaurea cyanus - Sept 2010
  • Katsura tree - Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Oct 2010
  • European Holly - Ilex aquifolium - Dec 2010
  • Cassava - Manihot esculenta - Jan 2011
  • Winter aconite - Eranthis hyemalis - Feb 2011
  • Taro - Colocasia esculenta - Mar 2011
  • Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii - Apr 2011
  • Golden barrel cactus - Echinocactus grusonii - May 2011
  • Phacelia tanacetifolia - Jun 2011
  • Staghorn sumac - Rhus typhina - Jul 2011
  • Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' - Aug 2011

and the Medicinal Plants featured were:

  • Autumn crocus - Colchicum autumnale - Oct 2010
  • Eucharis amazonica, Galanthus peshmenii and Galanthus reginae-olgae - Nov 2010
  • Yerba maté - Ilex paraguariensis - Dec 2010
  • Elderberry - Sambucus nigra - Feb 2011
  • Turmeric - Curcuma longa - Mar 2011
  • Petty Spurge - Euphorbia peplus - Apr 2011
  • Eucommia ulmoides - May 2011
  • Deadly nightshade - Atropa Belladonna - Jun 2011
  • Goat's rue - Galega officinalis - Jul 2011
  • Sweet wormwood - Artemisia annua - Aug 2011

Collaboration
Regular collaboration with other groups and external bodies has ensured that the Group's voice and profile are perceived throughout the industry and their views on current issues are known.

The group has the following representatives within SCI and outside:

  • SCI Finance and Investment Advisory Committee - Peter Grimbly
  • National Horticultural Forum - Geoff Dixon
  • RHS Greenskills Consultant - Geoff Dixon
  • British Standards Committee - Derek Palgrave
  • British Institute of Agricultural Consultants - David Whalley

Forward Programme
The Horticulture Group continues to develop its programme of events. We are currently planning a significant number of meetings for the 2011 – 2012 season:

  • 7 Oct 2011 - Chemistry@The Garden – A IYC event at Oxford Botanic Garden
  • 25 Oct 2011 - Cider and Perry Production
  • April 2012 - Eccleston Square; guide Roger Phillips; national collections Camellia, Ceanothus
  • Sprng/Autumn 2012 - Brogdale Horticultural Trust
  • Autumn 2012 - Chapeldown vineyard; Great Dixter gardens

Margaret Waddy
Honorary Secretary, Horticulture Group

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