Experts highlight importance of plant trials
28 June 2011
Experts from all over the world are speaking or presenting papers at the inaugural International Trials Conference to be held at RHS Garden Wisley.
Speakers from New Zealand and the USA as well as the UK, Germany and Finland will be speaking and debating the role and future of plant trials.
The organisers hope this ground-breaking event, 4-7 July, will help to ensure that all gardeners can buy great plants which have been bred and trialled and have therefore a stamp of good quality such as the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the RHS.
Plant breeding and trialling is a global business worth billions of pounds. This conference will look at future challenges and what needs to be done differently to ensure gardeners have access to good plants and the variety of choice to which they have become accustomed.
Although aimed at those closely involved in plant breeding, trialling and retailing there will be quite a few areas of interest for keen gardeners such as the debate on hardiness, horticultural responsibility, growing media and award systems.
“We hope that gardeners who are interested in how plants are developed and then, in turn, selected because of certain qualities will attend the conference,” says Jim Gardener, RHS Director of Horticulture. “This is a unique gathering of key plant breeders, plant trialling organisations and members of the global trade and promises to be extremely interesting. It is the ideal opportunity for gardening enthusiasts to talk to some of the industry’s leaders and influencers.”
Speakers include:
- Marco Hoffman, the acclaimed taxonomist from the Netherlands
- Fergus Garrett, the Head Gardener of Great Dixter
- Allan Armitage, Horticultural Professor at the University of Georgia, USA.
The cost to day visitors is £150 and includes refreshments and lunch. The conference starts on 4 July.