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A Strategy For West Sussex Growing Sector
To access the report click on this following link:
STOP PRESS!
The WSGA are pleased to announce that John Hall has been appointed to the role of Executive Consultant. John will perform various roles and tasks as delegated by the Chairman, Colin Frampton, and will liase and report back to him and the executive committee.
West Sussex Growers’ Association
Annual Dinner 2009
Chairmans Speech : Dr Paul Sopp
Mr. President of the West Sussex Growers’ Association, Honoured Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen.
On behalf of the Association I have great pleasure in welcoming to you our Annual Dinner in the eighty-second year of the Association. Here in West Sussex we have a strong, innovative industry with world-class companies of all sizes.
The industry has shown itself to be resilient in the face of the economic recession. Horticulture has generally done well this year, with many members reporting good returns and investing in their future. The British public have a love affair with their gardens and in times of recession will forgo foreign holidays and other luxuries, but continue to invest in their gardens. And off course everyone still has to eat and with the growth of healthy eating, buy British and some good early summer weather our salad producers have done well.
But we must not be complacent, this year we had a number of factors which came together in our favour; the good spring weather was vital for plant sales, much lower energy costs helped our salad producers and the exchange rate protected us against imported products. These advantages will not last and whilst we may not return to the exchange rates of previous years our overseas competitors will adapt. We must ensure that we use these good times to good effect.
Earlier this year we saw the completion of the study, commissioned by the Association, to provide reliable data our industry and to examine the issues facing us. This confirmed that the protected crops industry is an important part of the West Sussex economy, with more than 1,300 full time employees, thousands of part-time employees and a production turnover of £120m. There are also a large number of support companies providing additional employment and income. We are grateful for the support of SEEDA, West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and Arun District Council, in co-funding the study
The study recognised us for what we are – a strong, forward looking industry with significant potential to grow. It is an invaluable snap-shot of where the industry stands today, but much more importantly where do we go from here?
We are now working with Sussex Enterprise and others within the industry to develop a strategy for the West Sussex horticultural industry. Whatever the size of your business your contribution to the local economy must be recognised and a strategy developed to allow you to continue to flourish and grow.
It is increasingly difficult to find land suitable for horticultural production. Existing small nurseries are often purchased at exorbitant prices by individuals using the land for anything but horticulture or making speculative land investments. Large companies, seeking to expand their successful businesses face increasing difficulties in locating suitable land for large blocks of glass with the necessary infrastructure.
We are a vibrant industry, a confident industry and, with the right support, we have an exciting future.
2009 has been an exceptionally busy year for the Association not only with the industry study but also with planning, R&D provision, labour, industry promotion, to name but a few of the issues with which we have been involved this year.
We recently met with the Bank of England, not to ask for a loan! But to make sure our views and issues are known to them. The biggest threat to the industry in the short term, in my view, is the availability of credit throughout the supply chain. Manufacturers credit insure their customers, the distributors, some of whom in turn insure their customers, the growers. It is essential that credit facilities are maintained through the supply chain.
The past year has seen the creation of the Horticultural Development Company and we welcome Neil Bragg, Chairman of the HDC here tonight. The former Horticultural Development Council was an excellent resource for the industry and the Association strongly supported its development programmes and the SOLA pesticides scheme. The change included a move to Stoneleigh and the loss of almost all the established staff, many of whom were well known to the Association. In the summer we hosted four of the new staff providing them with an insight in to the industry and, for us, an opportunity to discuss R&D issues. We were impressed with their enthusiasm for their new roles and wish all at the new HDC well for the future.
But what does the future hold for the R&D community? The loss of HRI Kirton earlier this year now appears to be just the start. Warwick University’s proposals to merge Warwick HRI with the School of Biological Sciences will result in the loss of a third of the research leaders. The future of the Wellesbourne site beyond 2012 is uncertain; it increasingly looks like a case of asset stripping by Warwick University. The proposals totally ignored the requirement for applied research and focused on fundamental research with the consequent loss of the skills and facilities to conduct work of direct relevance to the industry. The so-called industry consultation lasted just three days! An absolute disgrace. The Association made a rather rapid submission to call for an expansion in the strategic and applied research capabilities, not the shift to fundamental science as is proposed. Last week Warwick University Senate decided to approve the original proposals – we and many others in the industry will do what we can to change their views.
At the same time DEFRA put out a very welcome project call through the Technology Strategy Board aimed at responding to the dual challenges of increasing the productivity of crops whilst reducing the environmental impact of crop protection. For the first time in more years than I can remember, we had an official document using the words ‘funding will be allocated to applied R&D’. How can this be reconciled with the loss of some of the very staff who would do that work?
We will continue to support our research community and lobby for additional support, not less.
As an Association we are extremely grateful for the support we have received throughout the year from West Sussex Country Council, especially from Ron Crank. Ron has been instrumental in organising meetings with other authorities and organisations. We are delighted to be able to thank Ron this evening for his support. We are also grateful for the support from SEEDA, especially from Andrew Colquhoun, who unfortunately can not be with us tonight. We welcomed Andrew on a tour of members during the summer.
We also welcomed our colleagues from the Lea Valley Growers Association during the summer and Gary Taylor, their Chairman, is with us tonight.
Education and training have always been important to the Association and we welcome the renewed interest in the industry from Brinsbury College and look forward to working with Alison Read and her new team.
Dave Abbott has continued to compile a history of the Association and indeed the horticultural industry in West Sussex, adding to the exhibition at our 80th celebrations two year ago. Recently the West Sussex Records Office hosted a month long exhibition using the material gathered by Dave. We will be grateful for any archive material you may have tucked away, it is important to record our history as well as look forward.
Political and practical issues inevitably occupy most of the Associations’ time, but it is important for us to promote the industry to a wider audience. The Grow a Garden Mum competition is now in its eleventh year and this year saw 1000 primary school children from 15 West Sussex schools competing. We hope that the children who took part will be inspired to garden, and maybe look to horticulture for a future career.
We also found time for an open nursery evening at Hill Brothers and Donaldsons, and visits to Thanet Earth and supermarket depots. We intend to hold more of these types of events next year. Also in the calendar for next year is a Nursery Open Day, probably in association with Open Farm Sunday. In previous years these have attracted 5,000 people to visit our nurseries, showing the industry at its best.
All of the work conducted by the Executive of the Association is voluntary and unpaid, usually after normal working hours and fitted around busy lives. A lot of work takes place behind the scenes and I would like to thank the members of the Executive who have put so much time in to furthering the causes of the industry. I would particularly like to mention Tineke Zwinkels who has expertly taken on the role of Association Treasurer and I would like to ask our President Colin Frampton to present a small gift in appreciation.
During this year we have received support from our colleagues within the NFU and I would like to thank Amanda Harman, Stephanie Coxall, William White, Sandra Nichols and the excellent NFU team at Petersfield. Thank-you to you all.
Once again Fiona Webb has taken on the task of organising tonight’s Annual Dinner, and I would like to ask Colin to present a small gift as a thank-you.
As with many organisations much of the work is conducted by the few on behalf of the many. One of my aims last year was to encourage some ‘younger blood’, to join the Association and the Executive. We have had some success but need to do more, so if you know any one who could, or should, play a part in the Association then please give me a call with their name – we can do the arm-twisting!
The Association has represented the industry in West Sussex for more than eighty years, and if the industry is to flourish for the next eighty years, it needs a strong and active association to represent its interests to government, local authorities, other organisations and the general public.
However it is not all hard work, the Association offers the opportunity to meet with colleagues from across the industry and develop contacts and friendships that will last a life time.
I have enjoyed my two years as Chairman and will stand down at the February AGM proud of the continuing achievements of the Association in promoting our industry.
Members of the Association, I ask you to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to our guests this evening…..Ladies and Gentlemen…..Our Guests.
New report highlights value of West Sussex growers
A new independent report on the West Sussex horticultural glasshouse industry has highlighted the significant contribution the industry continues to make to the local economy.
The report, commissioned by the West Sussex Growers Association, estimates the wholesale value of the food and ornamental crops grown under protection in the county at £120 million. If you add in outdoor crops, such as vegetables, the figure is nearer £200 million, which is worth at retail about £8 per head of UK population per year.
The report says growers in West Sussex employ 1,300 full-time staff and thousands of part-time workers as well as supporting a large service sector. Despite the fact businesses have had to depend more on migrant workers in recent years, they are still an important local employer, particularly of managerial staff.
Paul Sopp, chairman of the West Sussex Growers Association, expects the opportunities for employment, particularly in highly skilled and qualified jobs, will increase if growers can see through their expansion plans. “With the increased interest in local sourcing and UK food security, there is considerable potential for the West Sussex glasshouse industry to expand,” he said.
Horticulture is one of the area’s traditional industries but has undergone huge changes over the years as growers have had to respond to new challenges. The report says the industry has been at the forefront of adopting technical developments in growing structures and production systems. “The West Sussex climate is ideally suited to crop production and many local growers are world leaders,” said Dr Sopp. “We want to ensure the industry is allowed to develop to secure its future.”
The report also highlights the potential for the industry to host highly efficient renewable energy and energy from waste schemes, if these could be approved by planners in future.
Notes to editors
‘Viability of the horticultural glasshouse industry in West Sussex: prospects for the future and likely scale of development over the next 10 to 15 years’ was commissioned by the West Sussex Growers Association and written by Reading Agricultural Consultants Ltd, Gerry Hayman Horticultural Consultancy and Hennock Industries Ltd. It was financially supported by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and Arun District Council.
(Follow this link for full report: Industry Viability Report)
For more information, contact WSGA chairman Paul Sopp on 01903 721591.
Issued November 2009
INDUSTRY REPORT - ( Dr Paul Sopp WSGA Chairman)
In summer 2008 the Association Executive decided to commission a report on the state of the glasshouse industry in West Sussex, the issues facing the industry and the future prospects for the industry in West Sussex. This was principally in response to discussions with local authorities and other bodies who asked us for information on the industry. This was not always easy to provide and substantiate and following discussions within the Executive, and subsequently with local authorities, we decided to commission the report on the future viability of the industry in the West Sussex. We managed to obtain funding from SEEDA and three local authorities to cover over 90% of the cost of the study. The appointed contractors were Reading Agricultural Consultants and Gerry Hayman Consultancy who reported to the Association AGM in February 2009 and delivered the final report shortly afterwards. The Association Executive are currently considering the report and over the coming months will take a number of actions forward in discussions with local government and others. A copy of the report can be downloaded via this link -Industry Viability Report
WSGA MARKS 80 YEARS!
5th November 2009 – the Association welcomed members and guests to a reception to mark the end of a month long exhibition on the history of the Association. Guests enjoyed cheese and wine whilst viewing more than 50 information panels on the 80 year history of the Association and protected horticulture in West Sussex. The exhibition was held at the West Sussex Records Office in Chichester and the information has been retained by the office and is available on request.
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WSGA Chairman’s report to 2009 AGM
23rd February 2009
I would like to start by thanking all the Executive Committee members during the past 12 months for their support and contributions to the work of the Association. Our previous Chairman Patrick Bastow left us for pastures new during the year but I wish to record our thanks for his exceptional contribution during his time as Chairman.
The past year has been a very busy one for the Executive members. Our Executive Officer, Amanda Harman has suffered from severe staff shortages at the NFU Mutual Pulborough offices and from illness during the year so much of the day to day running of the Association has fallen to the Executive with assistance from the NFU. I would like to thank the NFU team at Petersfield, especially William White, Tim Shepherd and Sandra Nichols who have all provided practical support during this difficult time.
From the Executive I would especially like to thank Tineke Zwinkels who stepped in to manage the Association’s finances, without her we would have struggled to keep order. I apologise for the lateness of the 2007 levy invoices which should have been issued in September 2007, this was because of the staffing problems at the NFU Mutual. The September 2008 levy invoices were issued on time and we appreciate those members who pay their levy on time, to those who have mislaid their levy payment I would ask that they pay it as soon as possible.
Your Executive have held four meetings with West Sussex County Council during the year and on one occasion we were joined by Arun District Council and Chichester District Council for a wide-ranging discussion on the issues facing the local industry. As an Association we are extremely grateful for the support we have received throughout the year from West Sussex Country Council, especially from Louise Goldsmith, Deborah Urquhart and Ron Crank. They have worked on our behalf and have been instrumental in organising meetings with other authorities and organisations, including most recently the Environment Agency and the UK Border Agency.
The Environment Agency meeting discussed water availability and abstraction issues, especially on the Sussex Plain. We were joined at the meeting by specialists from the NFU and the HTA. Various actions will be taken forward from that meeting. The UK Border Agency meeting was open to all members and a number took the opportunity to hear about their policies, recent changes to the rules and to discuss issues relevant to the industry. Notes from this meeting have been circulated to the membership.
Pesticides have been a major issue during the past few months with the European Parliaments proposals to change the rules by which approvals are granted, a move which could potentially have lead to a loss of up to 85% of the active ingredients used within Europe. The Association, along with the NFU and many other organisations lobbied members of the Parliament, the UK Government and others, the Association sent more than 40 letters alone. The result of the Parliament vote, whilst not what we wanted, was far better than originally proposed and we are now likely to lose less than 14% of active ingredients. Of course the impact on the industry will depend on which actives these are, when they go and the alternatives available.
The association also made representations to the Primary Care trust over their proposed changes to the provision of emergency cover for West Sussex; this was a particular concern for those nurseries in more remote areas.
The Association is all about representing the interests of the industry and promoting the long-term health of the industry. We all know think we know how important this industry is to West Sussex, but we are frequently asked for statistics and facts by the various organisations we deal with. These are often difficult to find or anecdotal. One of the most important issues for the future well-being of the industry is the issue of planning and the ability to grow our businesses. The Executive decided to commission an independent study on the future viability of the industry in West Sussex and the impact we have on the West Sussex economy and environment. We consulted with SEEDA and the three local authorities and were delighted when all four agreed to contribute significant sums to the cost of the study. The study team lead by Reading Agricultural Consultants, and including Gerry Hayman, delivered their draft report to the Executive in the past two weeks. We have not yet had an opportunity to consider the final report in detail, but we are delighted that Alastair Field from Reading is here today to present an overview of the study and its findings, after the formal business of the AGM.
The Grow a Garden Mum competition was run for the 10th year and attracted 1,700 entries from 22 schools and despite the poor growing conditions this summer a worthy winner was chosen from St. Catherine’s Catholic School. We are grateful for the support of Yoder Toddington and Fargro to supply product and distribute to the schools.
The 2008 Annual Dinner moved to a new venue, the Vicar’s Hall at Chichester Cathedral and was judged as a great success by those attending. The dinner gives us an opportunity to lobby invited individuals on a variety of issues and also to thank those who have assisted the Association over the past year. Richard Hirst, Chairman of the NFU Board for Horticulture was our principle speaker and he spent much of the day with members of the Executive and visiting local businesses. I hope everyone will attend the 2009 Dinner.
A nursery visit was organised for mid-summer and more than 20 members took the opportunity of an excellent tour of New Place Nurseries in Pulborough. We thank John Hedger and Mike Norris for their hospitality and hope that we will be able to organise another nursery tour this summer.
Dave Abbott has continued to compile information related to the history of the Association and of the industry in West Sussex and would welcome contributions.
Greg Allen has taken over as webmaster for the Association website and we are continuing to receive more than 300 unique visits a week. We hope to analyse these in more detail to determine the most popular parts of the site.
It is a welcome sign that recent weeks have seen new enquiries for membership of the Association.
The coming year will be a challenging one for all businesses with the economic recession adding to the usual issues of running a business. Your Association intends to continue to champion the interests of the industry, for the long-term future of nursery production in West Sussex.
We welcome Amanda back to her role as Executive Officer and hope that 2009 will be a better year for her and the running of the Association.
The Association is a voluntary organisation with all the Executive members giving freely of their time and expertise. I have only been able to provide a short summary of the work done by the Association on behalf of the members. We welcome any member to contribute to the work of the Association and to the future of the industry in West Sussex. If anyone is interested in becoming more involved please see any of the Executive members.
Dr. Paul Sopp
Chairman
West Sussex Growers Association
Autumn Dinner 2008
The Association held its annual dinner on Friday 28th November at the Vicars Hall in Chichester, when 80 members and guests enjoyed a fine meal and excellent company.The principal speaker was Mr Richard Hirst, Chairman of the NFU Board for Horticulture. Mr Hirst spoke about a number of issues affecting the industry including availability of pesticides, producer organisations and the economic climate. He was proceeded by the Association Chairman, Dr Paul Sopp, whose speech can be found following this article.
Prior to the dinner Mr.Hirst had lunch with the Association Executive and then visited Fleurie Nurseries, Madestein Nurseries and Leythorne Ornamentals during the afternoon. Discussions during the visits covered a wide range of issues relating to the Association activities.
West Sussex Growers Association
Annual Dinner
Chairmans Speech:Dr Paul Sopp
Mr. President of the West Sussex Growers Association, Honoured Guests, Ladies & Gentleman.
On behalf of the West Sussex Growers Association I have great pleasure in welcoming you, to this, our Annual Dinner.
It is a great honour to be able to address you tonight as the Chairman of the West Sussex Growers Association, now in it’s eighty-first year.
Unlike many in this room I have no family history connected to the industry, although I am West Sussex born and bred. My first job was picking tomatoes at the Van Heyningen Brothers Littlehampton nurseries at some ungodly hour on a Saturday morning. I have John Way to thank for giving me that job and I still remember trying to get the green stains off my hands!
It was Joe Hussey at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, the GCRI, who inspired me to follow a career in to entomology and then to commercial horticulture. With the cuts in research funding and the challenges of commercial life I’m not sure which was the best path to follow!
My role this evening is to report on the activities of the Association over the past year.
I would like to start by thanking, on behalf of the Association, Patrick Bastow, our immediate past Chairman. Patrick steered the Association through the change of Executive Officer from Mark Rose to Amanda Harman. Those on the Executive know of the huge amount of work and time devoted by Patrick during that interim period. Together with Martin Emmett, our past Treasurer they worked tirelessly for the Association. We are delighted that Patrick has been able to return from his recent exile, self-imposed I should stress, in Lincolnshire to join us this evening.
The Associations Executive has continued to be active in support of the industry over a wide range of issues. As an industry we face many challenges, many of which constantly change, others go away only to reappear with a vengeance, before disappearing again. This year the energy price has been a classic example with summer energy prices being more than double those of last winter. Now energy prices are on their way down, but this is only because of the worldwide economic crisis, which will bring its own challenges to the industry and individual businesses.
Last year saw the eightieth year celebrations of the Association and a look back at the history of horticulture in West Sussex. Dave Abbott is continuing his studies on the history of the Association and growing in West Sussex. Dave will be grateful for any archive material you may have tucked away.
In this, our eighty-first year, we are looking forward to the future of our industry.
The Executive, whilst not predicting the economic crisis, did foresee that the environment within which we operate will change significantly in future years. We decided that the Association should commission an independent study on the viability of the industry in West Sussex. This study will examine the impact of planning, production and marketing, energy, environmental, labour and financial issues on the future of our industry over the next 10 to 15 years. This far reaching study will also look at the impact that we have as an industry on the West Sussex economy and environment. The study will be used by the Association and individual members in discussions with government, local authorities and others.
The Executive consulted with our local authorities on the study and requested funding to contribute towards the not insignificant cost. We were very grateful that West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and Arun District Council joined together with SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, in agreeing to contribute significant sums towards the study, covering the majority of the cost. The study team, led by Reading Agricultural Consultants, are now working on the report which is due to be delivered to the Association AGM in February. Another good reason to come to the AGM!
As an Association we are extremely grateful for the support we have received throughout the year from West Sussex Country Council, especially from Louise Goldsmith, Deborah Urquhart and Ron Crank. They have worked on our behalf and have been instrumental in organising meetings with other authorities and organisations. We are delighted that Louise and Ron were able to join us this evening, thank-you for your support.
The most recent meeting facilitated by the Council was with the Environment Agency to discuss water availability and abstraction issues, especially on the Sussex Plain. We were joined at the meeting by specialists from the NFU and the HTA. Various actions will be taken forward from that meeting. However, there is no doubt that water is a limited resource and it is incumbent on our industry to be a frugal as possible in its use, for economic as well as environmental reasons.
Another issue very relevant to us as an industry is the availability of labour and we strongly support the NFU’s lobbying on behalf of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. Locally we will shortly be holding an open meeting with the UK Border Agency, again facilitated by West Sussex County Council, to which members will be invited.
The past year has seen the transformation of the Horticultural Development Council to the Horticultural Development Company under the umbrella of The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. The former HDC was an excellent resource for the industry and the Association strongly supported its research and development programmes and the SOLA pesticides scheme. The HDC flourished under the Chairmanship of Colin Harvey and the Association wishes to thank him for his tireless support of our industry and to wish him well in his retirement.
The new combined Development Board is not a structure that the industry supported, but it is the structure within which we must now work. The new HDC faces a challenge for its rightful share of resources within the new organisation. It must ensure that the horticultural levy is spent for the benefit of horticulture and is not diluted. HDC funding will assume an even greater importance when the DEFRA guaranteed funding for Wellesbourne and East Malling ceases in 2 years time. Cuts are probably inevitable. It is surely madness to be cutting research just at the time when increasing food production and issues of food security are paramount. Neil Bragg has the task of Chairing the new HDC through these challenges and the Association offers its full support to him. We are delighted that he has been able to join us this evening.
Many of you know Dr. David Hand who has represented growers on the HDC for many years, most recently as chairman of the Protected Crops Panel. I am sure we all send our best wishes to him for a full recovery from his illness.
Our industry, nationally and especially here in West Sussex lead the world in the development of integrated pest control and the use of biological control. However the availability of suitable pesticides, or maybe we should call them plant medicines, remains an essential requirement for the efficient economic production of both edible and ornamental crops. We have looked with astonishment and fear at the proposals brought forward by the European Parliament which, at their most extreme, will severely limit the ability of European Horticulture and Agriculture to produce high quality produce in sufficient quantity. The Association has been active in lobbying Members of the European Parliament and working with other industry organisations to counter these proposals. You too can play your part. Lobby your MEP as the more letters they receive the more likely we are to mitigate the worst effects.
Political and practical issues inevitably occupy most of the Associations time, but it is important to present a positive image. The Grow a Garden Mum competition is now in its tenth year and going as strong as ever. This year saw 1700 primary school children from 22 West Sussex schools growing garden mums donated by Yoder Toddington. The judging was as hard as ever and a superb specimen grown by Luca Smith of St. Catherine’s’ Catholic School in Littlehampton won a £500 cheque for his school and a £50 book token for Luca. We hope that Luca and the other children who took part will be inspired to garden and maybe look to horticulture for a future career.
Once again Fiona Webb has taken on the task of organising tonight’s Annual Dinner. The Association President, Colin frampton, would like to present a small gift as a thank-you for all the hard work she has put in to organising this year’s event.
All of the work conducted by the Executive of the Association is voluntary and unpaid, usually after normal working hours and fitted around busy lives. A lot of work takes place behind the scenes and I would like to thank the members of the Executive who have put in so much time and effort in to furthering the causes of the Association. I would particularly like to thank Tineke Zwinkels who has expertly taken on the role of Association Treasurer for the past year. During this year we have received support from our colleagues within the NFU and I would like to thank William White, Tim Shepherd, Amanda Harman, Sandra Nichols and the excellent NFU team at Petersfield. Thank-you to you all.
As with many organisations much of the work is conducted by the few on behalf of the many. One of my aims this year is to encourage some ‘younger blood’, if I may use that phrase, to join the Association and the Executive. If you know any younger people who could play a part in the Association then please give me a call with their name. We can then do the arm-twisting, incidentally anyone out there who wants to be Vice-Chairman!
The Association has represented the industry in West Sussex for more than eighty years, and if the industry is to flourish for the next eighty years, it needs a strong and active association to represent its interests to government, local authorities, other organisations and the general public.
However it is not all hard work, the Association offers the opportunity to meet with colleagues from across the industry and develop contacts and friendships that will last a life time.
Members of the Association, I ask you to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to our guests this evening…..Ladies and Gentlemen…..Our Guests
Executive Committee meeting dates 2009
The Executive meeting dates for 2009 are;
2 February
6 April
1 June
14 September
2 November
all meetings start at 7pm at the Aldingbourne Centre
AGM - provisionally 23 February
2009 Dinner - 27 November
Industry viability study
The WSGA Executive have commissioned reading Agricultural Consultants and partners to conduct a report in to the future of the horticultural industry in West Sussex. The study is being co-funded by SEEDA, West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council, Arun District Council and the Association. The study will look at factors affecting the future of the industry in West Sussex including financial, planning, production, marketing, energy, environmental, labour and investment. The report is due at the end of January 2009.
Patrick Bastow moves on
Our Vice-Chairman Patrick Bastow has left Sussex to take up a post with Swedeponic in Lincolnshire. Patrick has shown great commitment to the Asscoiation over recent years and has served on the Executive committee and as Chairman in 2007, and his contribution will be sorely missed. Nominations for the Vice-Chairman position should be made to the Executive Officer.
New Place Nurseries Visit, Pulborough 5th June 2008
A very successful visit was held at New Place Nurseries in Pulbrough, on the 5th June with more than 25 members enjoying a tour of the nrusery and a lively social in the nearby pub afterwards. Our thanks to Mike Norris and his team for their time and allowing us to view their nursery.
West Sussex Growers Autumn Dinner 2008
A date for your diaries. The next WSGA Autumn Dinner will be on the 28th November 2008. It will be at a new venue for the WSGA, the Vicars Hall, South Street, Chichester. The guest speaker is Richard Hirst, NFU. Details will be sent out in early September.
West Sussex Growers Autumn Dinner 2007
An Overview of the Autumn Dinner 2007
The Autumn Dinner had over 161 members and guests in attendance.
Our Chairman, Mr Patrick Bastow, welcomed our guests and report briefly on the work that the Association has been involved in over the last year. Please click here to download his full speech.
Association Member and WSGA Historian David Abbot gave an amusing and detailed background to horticulture within West Sussex. Please click here for a PDF copy of David's full speech. David had also provided a large display of the history of the hortculture within West Sussex. It is hoped that this display will be given a more public exhibition shortly.
WSGA Executive Committe 2007, at the Autumn Dinner
Below are some more photo's from the Autumn Dinner
Special thanks to Neil Robertson for being the Associations Official Photographer for the evening. Thank you Neil!
Many thanks to the following people for their help in organising our 80th Anniversary 2007 Autumn Dinner: Fiona Webb, William White, Madestein Nursery, Mike Plummer, David Abbott, Clive Lisher, Paul Sopp and Bobby Forester.
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