More than 60 attendees heard the latest in IPM planning for pest and disease control in ornamental crops at Brinsbury College on 8 November from a range of speakers including Jude Bennison from ADAS, Josh Burnstone, Neil Helyer and David Hide from Fargro, and Jorge Tirado from BASF. The objective of the seminar was to continue to provide growers with the tools required to build their own IPM programmes, and in so doing meet a key element of the Sustainable Use Regulations. Fargro managing director Richard Hopkins chaired the day.
The event showed industry collaboration with involvement from AHDB, IPPS Europe, Southern Growers Club, GroSouth, Growtrain, Fargro, Perennial and the West Sussex Growers Association.
Grow Careers event held at GroSouth on 9 November, 19 students from Hadlow, Northbrook and Sparsholt colleges, plus RBG Kew and the National Trust attended.
Organiser David Hide said: "The event is designed to both inspire and support college students as they move out of education into the world of work. The day included presentations from number of leading growers who all explained how they made their first steps into horticulture. Mark Marriott from Pro-Force Recruitment described how to prepare and promote a CV and the day finished with a tour of Roundstone’s production facilities."
Feedback included: "I really enjoyed the day and am very grateful that you and your colleagues put such an effort into helping students, it really does help." (Donna Wolfe, Hadlow College)
"Thank you for all your work coordinating the Grow Careers event. It was a great day and opportunity to network with people - as a result I have arranged to meet up with the propagation team at Nymans in the new year." (Richard Briggs, Hadlow College)
"I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I think it’s great what you are doing with Fargro and grow careers to help inspire other people to come into horticulture. I enjoyed the trip around Roundstone, and looking at the Poinsettias. Having the event alongside Grosouth also allows everyone the chance to mix with others from the industry, which I think is really helpful." (Jamie Satterthwaite, Pentland Plants/SRUC)
"I really enjoyed the event, great vibe amazing people to talk to. Thank you for the opportunity." (Tom Thorne, W. Godfrey and Sons/Sparsholt College).
