On 3 and 4 September, a 23-arcre nursery site in Macclesfield, Cheshire, was the location of the 52nd Four Oaks Trade Show. The show is known as one of the UK's biggest international exhibitions for horticulture. Exhibitors showcased their products, ranging from growing media and specimen plants to Christmas trees. According to the Four Oaks Show organization, there was a turnout with approximately 2,000 visitors on day one, and around 1,500 on day two. "Attendees came from across Europe, reflecting the international appeal of the show. We're finalizing the full visitor data, but it's safe to say the show attracted a diverse audience, including industry professionals, growers, and buyers from various countries," says Kieran Barker of the Four Oaks Trade Show.
The show location in Macclesfield, Cheshire
High-quality orders and key trends
According to Barker, they welcomed both new and returning exhibitors, many of whom reported making high-quality orders. This is also confirmed by Neil Alock from Seiont Nurseries, a British plug and liner producer that also exports to European countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. He says: "We are exhibiting on Four Oaks for over 45 years now, and we had a good, steady show as usual." He is especially positive about the quality of the quality of the visitors they received at their stand. "This year, it was maybe a little bit quitter in terms of visitor numbers, but the orders and enquiries that we got show that their quality was very good. The last few days, our office has been busy all day to catch up with all the enquiries."
The Seiont Nursery stand
Barker also points out that some key trends emerged at this year's show: "Sustainable practices, including peat-free growing mediums and eco-friendly packaging solutions, were front and centre as the industry continues to shift towards greener solutions. We also saw a strong focus on technological advancements, with exhibitors showcasing automation tools, digital solutions, and innovative growing techniques that are shaping the future of horticulture." Alock also noticed an interest in peat-free on the show, saying: "We are peat-free growers for 15 years. Now, due to the new laws coming in the UK, we saw a lot of interest in peat-free on the show. People start realizing that they should stop using peat."
The MNP Suntory stand
Also, MNP / Suntory was present. According to the company's Sales & License Manager, Klaas Droog, it was a beautiful show. He was pleased to see that the show was well-attended and that they received a lot of attention for their products. "Especially on the first morning, it was very busy. All the days of the show we welcomed a lot of visitors which were interested in our products." When asked which products received the most attention, he says that visitors were most interested in MNP/ Suntory's Dipladenia and their Catharanthus."The Dipladenia is difficult to import into the UK from Europe. There was also a lot of interest for the Catharanthus that we showcased at Plantarium."
The MNP Suntory stand
Continuity and change
Further, Droog found that the show was as it always has been in the 20 years that MNP/ Suntory is exhibiting at Four Oaks. "Most things stayed the same, nevertheless, this show is always a good opportunity to meet growers and other parties in the industry." Barker highlights that they maintained core elements while also introducing some new features such as networking opportunities, strong commercial presence, and a lineup of seminars on key industry topics. "These additions created a dynamic atmosphere and gave attendees the chance to see first-hand how the industry is evolving."
While some companies have exhibited at this trade show for many times, there were also some new exhibitors such as McLaren's Nurseries. They decided to exhibit for the first time at Four Oaks as they felt that the time was right to showcase what they can do to a relatively new audience, says Adam McGowan of McLaren's Nurseries. "We connected with all kinds of people some of which had heard of us, but most were brand new to us. After 50 years in the business, it's great to still let people discover all that McLarens has to offer." He adds that most attention went to their range of Scottish plant, which according to him were different from what most people were supplying.
The Four Oaks organization is already preparing for next year's edition. "The momentum from this year is carrying us straight into preparations for next year's edition. We've already begun taking stand bookings, and the interest is high. We're excited to build on this year's success and continue delivering a premier event for the horticultural industry. We'd like to extend a huge thank you to all our exhibitors, visitors, and partners who contributed to making this year's show such a success. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the event were palpable, and we're looking forward to raising the bar even higher next year."