On the afternoon of September 30, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) live-streamed a Town Hall to its members where they could hear from Defra and APHA representatives at a regional member event hosted by Joseph Rochford Gardens, Hertford.
HTA members had the opportunity to join industry stakeholders both at the venue and online for an in-person panel discussion with Rebecca Grant from Joseph Rochford Gardens, HTA Technical Policy Manager Sally Cullimore, plus Jason Pollock from Defra and Tracy Wilson from APHA, who both joined remotely.
Topics included the transition to peat-free, the HTA's policy work and business schemes, and the current Border Control Post issues felt by members across the UK.
Sally Cullimore, HTA Technical Policy Manager, said: "Streaming our regular members meeting in front of a live audience with a panel worked well. We addressed recent issues experienced at the border, took questions, and heard insights from members of the audience who grasped the opportunity to talk directly with APHA & DEFRA representatives. I enjoyed the direct interaction with members and hope to see more of these hybrid on-site events in the future, which will bring HTA closer to our membership."
The regional meeting also included a round-up video from the HTA policy and public affairs team at each recent political Party Conference: Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative.
The town hall was part of a regional member event series, which the HTA launched in August. Events have so far taken place in Scotland, Hampshire, Cornwall, West Midlands, Northern England, Yorkshire and the Northeast. "These regional members events offer hundreds of HTA members a chance to network with fellow nearby members, hear from experts on important industry issues, and most importantly, express their voices and concerns to their regional member engagement manager, ensuring their opinions are listened to and valued."
Regional meetings are scheduled for the remainder of the year in further locations scattered across the UK.
Members can watch back the HTA Town Hall Live here.
For more information:
Horticultural Trades Association
www.hta.org.uk