HTA members representing all sectors of the industry attended the association’s Annual General Meeting which took place this week at the HTA’s Horticulture House in Chilton, Oxfordshire.

Adam Taylor from Taylors Bulbs, who joined the board in September, was elected as vice president until the 2017 AGM. Alex Vick, HTA Finance Director and GIMA President Chris Ramsden from Hozelock were appointed to the board.

Several board members stood down from their roles; Caroline Owen from Scotsdales Garden Centres and David Norman from Abercorn Garden Centre who have both served on thebBoard since 2007 and prior to that on the finance and management committee. Ms Owen will continue as the chair of the HTA marketing committee.

Also stepping down was Mark Pearson, who has served on the board for four years and assisted the HTA this year with the new property purchase, and Ian Ashton from Lowaters who has served since 2007. Adam Frost, who has served on the board for a second term, will also take a step down. 

HTA president Adam Wigglesworth said, “We are delighted to welcome Adam, Alex and Chris to the b

oard. I would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to those Board members who have stood down – HTA has been incredibly fortunate to have had such generous support.”

This was echoed by HTA chief executive Carol Paris who added her thanks for their guidance and time provided over the years. Following the AGM there were presentations about Brexit and the changing political landscape (from Mark Glover of Newington Communications) and the impact that it potentially has on consumer behaviour (from Josh McBain of the Foresight Factory). Speaking about the work that is being done to help raise awareness of horticulture through the All Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) Mark encouraged all to help make the voice of horticulture heard by contacting your local MP directly. Josh spoke about the ‘power of precariousness’ amongst consumers with decline in trust in authority figures, worries about future financial security for the younger generation and continuing uncertainty all playing on people’s minds.

The morning concluded with a joint tree planting between the HTA (Carol Paris and Adam Wigglesworth) and GCA (Iain Wylie and Julian Winfield) cementing the relationship between the two organisations. Following a networking lunch members also received a tour of the building and the facilities available to them.