Parafence Impress in Trial
Parafence, the unique windbreak and shade system, has solved an over-exposure problem for Sylma, a major pre-production grower of ornamentals and trees, in Belgium. They found Parafence on the web and invited sole supplier Plant Care Ltd to carry out a trial with them. The trial, carried out on a small area of the nursery, was an immediate success. (Planteria, March/April 2009).

Research Facility Planning Takes Time
Unigro, specialists in the design and implementation of research facilities, point out that planning a research facility regardless of the size requires major attention to detail, foresight and anticipation of future needs. The role of the Project Management Team is key to achieving a suitable facility, on time and on budget. In their experience it can take up to thirty-months from conception to commissioning the average facility.

Hydor Vastly Improves Conditions
The Hydor evaporative cooling system has been installed in two sheds holding 54,000 broilers on Steanbow Farm in Shepton Mallet. Owner, Mr F Christensen, says: 'We have vastly improved conditions for the birds in hot weather and are reducing our energy overheads at the same time. We are so pleased plans are currently in place to install the system in a further two buildings (The RIBDA Journal, March 2009)

Exosect Obtains Emergency Approval for control of Light Brown Apple Moth
Exosect has announced that it has received a 120 day emergency approval and consent to market ExosexLBAMTab for the control of Light Brown Apple Moth, Epipyhas postvittana. Exosect has responded to the requests from the horticultural industry to resolve their limited options for control of this emerging pest of soft and tree fruits. The pest is recorded as having been associated with over 2000 plant species with more under threat as it becomes established in future years.
Alison Tod, Orchards and Vines Product Manager said, “This result is a huge win for our industry. To offer a solution at a time when growers are expected to supply top quality produce with minimal residues without all the necessary tools, makes this emergency approval perfectly apt to complete the growers’ toolkit”. 
Contact Exosect for more details

Export 2 Emirates - Thurs 2nd July - London
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) are hosting a seminar on 2nd July 2009 for any companies interested in exploring export opportunities in the United Arab Emirates.
Whether you are considering exploring the potential in Abu Dhabi and the lesser-known Emirates, or are currently operating in Dubai or thinking of doing business in this region, this seminar will provide more information about the opportunities and challenges in this market and how the Emirates are withstanding the global economic downturn.
LCCI have kindly extended their Premier Plus Members Rate to the CHA for this event. Please mark clearly on your registration form "recommended by Commercial Horticultural Association". Click here to download the registration form. More details are available at www.londonchamber.co.uk/uae

CHA Secure UKTI TAP Grant Support
We are pleased to announce that the CHA has secured UKTI TAP funding for several high profile international horticultural events, offering a gateway into overseas markets for UK companies.
Under the revised Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP), eligible companies can obtain grants of up to £1800 towards their costs of exhibiting at the industry’s key international events.
Grants will be available for Flormart/Miflor in Padua, Italy (10-12th Sept 2009), International HortiFair in Amsterdam, Netherlands (13-16th Oct 2009), Growtech Eurasia in Antalya, Turkey (3-6th Dec 2009), IPM Essen in Germany (28-31st Jan 2010), Salon du Vegetal in Angers, France (16-18th Feb 2010) , IPM Dubai (March 2010 tba) and Hortec in Nairobi, Kenya (March 2010 tba).
The CHA hopes to organise UK Pavilions at all of these major shows – more details available by contacting stuart@cha-hort.com

Employment Legislation Update
The holiday entitlement for workers (previously 4.8 weeks) increased to 5.6 weeks (capped at 28 days) from 1 April 2009. Holiday pay is worked out on a pro-rata basis for part-time workers.
When the holiday entitlement went up in October 2007 employers were able to make a payment in lieu of the additional amount of holiday (0.8 weeks). Since 1 April 2009 employers are no longer able to do this - although it is still permissable to pay in lieu for any holiday entitlement over and above the legal minimum amount of 5.6 weeks.
Since 6 April, the right to request flexible working has been extended to parents of children aged 16 and under
For more details on employment legislation go to www.berr.gov.uk or www.businesslink.gov.uk

CHA Welcomes Six New Members
We are delighted to welcome six new Members to the fold. Johnsons of Whixley, Scotts Professional, William Sinclair Horticulture, GD Business Solutions, Indigrow and Warnborough College have all joined the CHA since the end of 2008. Please click the links to find out more

CHA Exhibits at IPM Dubai
The CHA took a group out to IPM Dubai for the first time in 2009 following a successful explorer mission to the event in 2007. Several UK companies took their first steps into this potentially lucrative new market under the CHA banner, including Valcent Products (EU) Ltd, Hotbox International, Cambridge HOK and Botanicoir. All reported on the extremely high quality of enquiries with one exhibitor commenting that he would normally expect that it would be worth following up 20% of his enquiries; at IPM Dubai it was more like 80%

Success for UK Exhibitors at Salon du Vegetal
UK companies exhibiting at this year's Salon du Vegetal event in France were pleased with the response they received during the event, despite the difficult economic climate. At least 10 UK companies, including six CHA Members, exhibited at the event taking place between 17-19 Feb 2009. Six of the exhibitors also benefited from grant support secured by the CHA through UKTI

Positive Response to UK Group at IPM Essen 2009
We were delighted to attract 14 companies on to the UK Pavilion for IPM Essen 2009, including 11 CHA Members. Elsewhere within the show a further 5 UK companies exhibited, including 2 CHA Members.
Amongst the UK exhibitors, David Austin Roses showcased beautiful new English Roses, including Wisley 2008 and Sir John Betjeman.
New Member and exhibitor John Woods Nurseries were exhibiting a range of innovative UK grown stock.
All exhibitors reported very positive feedback from the event, which attracted over 60,000 visitors over the four days of the event. Contact CHA now for details on next year's event and booking forms

CHA at Hortec Kenya
The CHA led a group of eight British companies to the re-scheduled HORTEC 2008, East Africa’s leading horticultural trade exhibition held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi (5-7th Nov 2008). We also organised a reception alongside the British High Commission at the British High Commissioner's residence. This was highly successful, and gave the opportunity for key Kenyan horticultural stakeholders to meet the British delegation - and several important contacts were made. Amongst the UK delegation exhibiting at the event were bpi.visqueen, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of polythene films for horticultural applications, and Omex Agrifluids who were showcasing their range of foliar plant nutrients.

New Appointments
Vitax have announced two new appointments following the retirement of Clive Williams. Mike King heads the new Supaturf division and Joe Crawley will be in charge of a new Fine Turf Division (UK Landscape Today, issue 5)
Fargro has appointed Terry Horsman to the position of national products manager (West).  He was previously a grower of salad and ornamental crops (Hort Week, 27th February)
Johnsons of Whixley chairman John Richardson has presented a 35-year service award to operations manager Jon Walker, one of nine employees with a combined total of almost 200 year's service.  Others receiving the award were: Mark Reynard, Steve Jones, Paul Horner, Tony Green and Paul Lamb, all with 25 years' service; and Barbara Mortimer and Steve Morton each with 10 years' service (Hort Week, 9th Jan).

Tortrix moth damage - an update
It is now several years since light brown apple moth began to appear as a serious pest of nursery stock in the South West. This year the moth has been at very high numbers over most of the country and is now a bigger problem than carnation tortrix. Not only is it attacking a wide range of nursery stock but is also damaging a range of fruit crops including cherries and blueberries. Pheromone traps for light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) are available from Agralan.

Turkish Market Research Project Commissioned
Following our commitment to lead the UK group at Growtech Eurasia in Antalya, Turkey in November 2008 (27-30th Nov), we have commissioned a major market research project into the horticultural industry in Turkey. This research will be made available to all CHA Members and exhibitors on the CHA stand at this year's event for a small fee. Click here for more details

New Members Welcomed
We are delighted to welcome two new Members to the CHA. Valcent Products (EU) Ltd are based in Cornwall and are a hydroponics and tissue culture based company. Terraseed Ltd of Tadley, Hampshire is "advancing crop technology" by the use of physical barrier systems, replacing agrochemicals for weed, insect and disease control.

New Committee Members
We warmly welcome Tony Marriott of Plant Care Ltd and Carolyn Bourne of Whetman Pinks who have recently joined our committee

Organic Capital Grants Programme Launched
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has launched its Organics Capital Grants Programme VI. This can provide financial assistance of up to 30% towards the capital cost of plant, equipment and infrastructure of new (or extensions to existing) facilities for composting, thermophlic aerobic or anaerobic digestion of food waste. Call 01295 819640 or click here for more details

New Members Welcomed
We are delighted to welcome a further 2 new Members to our fold since the turn of the year. They are Castlefield Products and The Guernsey Clematis Nursery. Click on the links or visit the Members lists to find out more

Maximum Yield with a "Touch of Garlic"
"Like a touch of magic from the clever clove" said Bernie Capell at Poolbank Salads, a division of Humber VHB. As supermarket suppliers, they have to produce top quality products. For the past two years they have introduced garlic based products, Anthyllis and Garshield from Aston Horticulture. Using one product in the mixing cycle and another sprayed on, virtually eliminated mildew on the first crop. The season's second and third crops have also seen a dramatic reduction in chemical usage, no health and safety issues and harvest intervals reduced to zero. In Bernie's opinion the products from Aston are directly responsible for the increased yield this year.

New Member Welcomed
We are pleased to welcome a new Members to our number. Plant Marketing International of Chichester is a privately owned, global company specialising in the sales and marketing of micro-propagated plants.

Big Increase in Coir as Growing Medium
Long-term CHA Member Horticultural Coir Ltd reports that over the past 4 years there has been a big increase in coir as an alternative to peat. Managing Director Tom de Vesci explains, "This has come about, in my opinion, not only as a result of environmental considerations but also as a result of the industry becoming more aware of how well good quality coir performs as a growing medium."
Contact Horticultural Coir Ltd for more information.

Cambridge and HOK join forces
The Cambridge Glasshouse Company Ltd and HOK Engineering Ltd recently announced that they are to join forces. Under the terms of the agreement HOK's team of Venlo experts, led by Dave Warnett, will combine with Cambridge's commercial glasshouse team to create a new enterprise which will be known as Cambridge HOK. Dave Warnett is to become a Director of Cambridge HOK.

GroDome Opens
Edinburgh University has officially opened the fully commissioned GroDome, which has been designed and constructed by Unigro. The facility provides Level ll and Level lll containment with highly controlled internal environmental parameters. Unigro is proud to have been given the opportunity to work with Edinburgh University on this prestigious project and hopes that this will be the first of many collaborations
 
New Appointment
The Cambridge Glasshouse Company Ltd has appointed Dave Lowthorpe as its new Venlo Glasshouse Product Specialist. With over 30 years' experience in the glasshouse industry, Dave will be working with Cambridge's team of Technical Advisers, to provide comprehensive, turnkey solutions for both new build and refurbishment projects.
 
New Member Welcomed
We are pleased to welcome Grassroots Recycling as new Members of the Commercial Horticultural Association. The Warminster, Wiltshire based outfit specialise in the recycling of cardboard and plastics and serve both the agricultural and horticultural industries.