FOREWORD WELCOMETO SAY THAT AGAIN! Spring - into action?
February is always such an uncertain month weather-wise. Last year, we were gripped with sub-zero temperatures blown down from Siberia, but we have largely, and luckily, missed most of the cold and wet weather throughout this winter.
Spring also started very late last year. It was the third week of April before we saw any significant growth and recovery, so I have my fingers crossed that warmer weather will be with us much sooner this year. Unfortunately, as I write this on a very wet February day, the long-range forecast is showing some cold weather will be with us into the early part of March at least.
Still it can always be much worse, America has been gripped with record low temperatures brought about by a polar vortex from the North Pole. Temperatures at the end of January were down as low as minus 37O
with the wind chill, down to minus 50O
stop at stands in between their usual destinations. I’m sure there will be some tweaking required for next year’s show, but with visitor numbers up, BIGGA will be largely delighted with the new look and their delivery of the event.
And finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention Brexit, a subject that has caused so much angst within our country. I attended an annual seed distributors conference in January, along with around twenty of my industry competitors (we all get along fine - honest). One of the speakers conducted a secret ballot, with three separate questions to do with remain/leave/no deal etc. The results were, not unsurprisingly, divided within the room; but it was close, narrowly edged by the leavers.
C and,
C. In contrast, Australia was, in the same period, experiencing record temperatures, with a heatwave offering daily temperatures above 40O breaking records.
C, again
Thankfully, the weather didn’t cause havoc with BTME this year, but there was a major layout overhaul of the Harrogate International centre for the show. The hall structure was changed completely, and positively it seems, to encourage delegates to spend more time going around and viewing what’s on offer.
The historical layout had been the same for maybe fifteen years, and companies tended to stay in the same spot year on year, so regular visitors would often bypass many stands to see their favourites. Although mildly confusing, the much-needed revamp for 2019 has shown that visitors took more time to
Whatever the outcome though, we must face the future together and get on with it. We are a nation that has proved, throughout history, that we can face adversity and win.
All the best for the spring.
Cheers Dave Saltman
“I believe getting into this industry is one of the best decisions I ever made. I love the passion of the job and what I do. If there is one thing I’m good at it’s looking after grass” Roy Rigby, Manchester City FC
“If you have a dream job, Ringway is that place that you perhaps didn’t know about that ticks all the boxes. I don’t know if it’s the endpoint, but it’s certainly the type of club I was aiming for when I first got into the industry” Richard Stephens, Ringway Golf Club
“I do feel, 100%, that we are undervalued. We never get many thanks or a pat on the back when the pitches are good but, when they are struggling, we seem to get the bad press” Nick Hyndman, Fleetwood Town FC
“I think there are still too many people out there who don’t recognise the skill and the professionalism within greenkeeping” Lucy Sellick, Wenvoe Castle Golf Club
“People don’t realise that damage from warm-ups is sometimes massive and the impact of that means the pitch can end up looking battered in places before kick-off” Andy Gray, Southampton FC
PC February/March 2019
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