Ball Colegrave managing director Sandy Shepherd from joins the HTA Board as a director.
Mr Shepherd has been managing director of Ball Colegrave since 2001 and brings more than 30 years' horticultural business knowledge to the organisation, having previously held senior management positions in KinderGarden Plants, Jiffy and Lows of Dundee.

Ball Colegrave is a leading UK wholesale distributor of seed and plants to commercial growers and local authorities, founded in 1962 by the late David Colegrave and his wife Nancy. Mr Colegrave pioneered with the introduction of the first F1 hybrids to the UK market, a significant turning point in the history of ornamental bedding plants. In 2001 Ball Horticultural Company joined forces with the David Colegrave Group.

HTA chief executive Carol Paris commented: "We are delighted that Sandy is joining us on the HTA board. It is important that all the interests of our members are represented on the board and, with the wealth of industry knowledge and experience that Sandy brings, we look forward to his contribution."

In addition to Mr Shepherd, the HTA Board comprises Stan Green (president), David Norman (hon treasurer), Carol Paris (HTA ceo), Caroline Owen (past president), John Lord, Ian Ashton, Bob Hewitt, Mark Pearson and Richard Barnard.