The HTA (Horticultural Trades Association) has announced today that it will be hosting its New Plant Awards as a ‘virtual’ event this year.

The New Plant Awards are usually one of the highlights of the National Plant Show, held by the HTA in June each year. Due to the coronavirus crisis, the plant show was cancelled, but the HTA has decided to run the New Plant Awards as an independent online event in 2020.

HTA President, Boyd Douglas-Davies said:

“We are so excited to be able to launch a virtual version of the New Plant Awards. The Awards are an important and eagerly anticipated event within the horticulture calendar, and they allow our UK growers and plant suppliers to showcase the wonderful new plants they have been cultivating. We hope that running the event, despite the current circumstances, will provide a much-needed boost for the industry, and provide a positive focus for the horticulture community.”

The Awards will include both a professionally judged and an online visitor vote award.  In each category the judges will be deciding Bronze, Silver and Gold winners. Best in Category winners will be put forward for Best Overall Winner.

Exhibitors can enter plants into the following categories:

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, GIMA’s Consumer & Design Trends seminar was sadly cancelled, however delegates – including GIMA members, non-members and for the first time, retailers - are being offered a second chance to learn more about the trends that are expected to influence consumer shopping decisions regarding interior and exterior products with the launch of GIMA’s new webinar series.

Led by leading trends agency, Scarlet Opus, these one-hour webinars will look at not just the garden and outdoor product, colour and design trends for spring/summer 2021 but will also explore the consumer behaviour consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the Scarlet Opus team will be providing insight into what consumers of 2021 will want to buy, plus they’ll be offering ideas on how to future proof new product development, visual merchandising, packaging and marketing plans.

There is no doubt that people’s gardens and outdoor spaces have become their haven of calm during lockdown. These outdoor spaces have, more than ever, become a recognised and valued place of wellbeing, a place to escape to, to exercise in, to spend valued time with other members of the household, but more importantly a place where life feels safe – one of the few spaces where we are able to control normality.

It is with regret that Premier Promotions and Exhibitions Ltd has taken the decision that, as a result of the Coronavirus situation, it is not possible for us to hold SOLEX, the Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition 2020, 7-9 July, NEC, Birmingham.

“We have been following the UK Government's guidelines and, it is with much regret that we have taken the decision to postpone the event until July 2021.

The safety and wellbeing of our staff, exhibitors, visitors, partners and contractors is of the utmost importance to us and the protection and prevention of harm to all involved is vital.”

Guy Hollander and Adam Harris of Mazars, the international accounting and advisory firm, have been appointed Joint Administrators of the Parlane International Limited as of 7 May 2020.

The Company, based in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, was founded in 1965 and has traded for over 50 years. It specialises in the delivery of homewares and gifts including furniture, decorative and functional accessories, faux flowers and Christmas decorations both in the UK and internationally.

Prior to entering administration, the company made 11 of its 24 staff redundant. The Joint Administrators are working closely with the Company’s management and their independent agents, European Valuations, to find a purchaser for the business and assets in order to preserve the business and the jobs of the 13 remaining and furloughed staff.

Guy Hollander, Joint Administrator, said: We are looking for a purchaser for this well-established brand which has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. I would like to thank the directors and the staff for the help that they have provided in an incredibly stressful, difficult and emotional situation.