Attendees to next year’s (January 20 until 23, 2019) Garden Centre Association (GCA) annual conference will be able to hear from former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

Kevin will be a guest speaker at the conference, which takes place at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton, on Tuesday, January 22. Places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: “The afternoon of our conference on January 22 has a bit of a sporting flavour as we hear from top keynote speakers, including Kevin Pieterson.

“Kevin will be giving an inspirational speech about personal motivation and determination to succeed, which we hope our garden centre members will be able to benefit from and take away everything they’ve learned and put it to use in their personal and working lives.”

Kevin made his debut for England in 2005 and, in an international career spanning more than a decade, he played 104 test matches, scoring 8,181 runs at an average of 47.28. After his 158 at the Oval in 2005, an innings which helped England secure an Ashes victory for the first time since 1987, the England team received MBE’s from her Majesty the Queen.

Iain added: “Kevin has been described as the ‘greatest batsman to ever wear an England shirt,’ and we think our attendees will thoroughly enjoy hearing from him.

“However, cricket is only one part of Kevin’s life. As a fearless, selfless and single-minded individual, Kevin has demonstrated a fierce determination to overcome adversity and fight to help others, be it underprivileged children or threatened rhinos in Africa and India.

“One of Kevin’s big focuses is to dedicate his time and energy into things that matter most to him, conservation and community work, which he will also be talking about during the conference.”

Kevin set up an initiative called SORAI (Save Our Rhinos in Africa and India) in a bid to help save rhinos from extinction. He has created a product range of cricket and general merchandise to support the fund raising and awareness for ongoing preservation and protection of rhinos and the ongoing education, awareness and public support of the issue globally.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme, the organisation helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

The GCA’s 2019 conference will be held at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border from January 20 until 23 and places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.