GROEN-Direkt’s Autumn Fair, which boasted 35 new exhibitors and a host of plant introductions, reflected the positive mood among European garden centres and traders.

The new layout featured the product sampler displays along one side of the central aisle and the stalls of  the 150 participating growers along the other. The green central aisle also allowed access to Plantarium, the international arboricultural fair.

GROEN-Direkt itself launched its novel Quicktree Christmas tree stand, in which a hole drilled in the tree’s trunk sits over a pin to hold the tree in a stable and perfectly upright position.

There were 20 new plant introductions in the Novelties Plaza, where visitors chose Stokesia ‘Mega Mels’ (from Asra Plant bvba, Meer, Belgium) as the best novelty.

Having Plantarium in the adjacent hall enabled visitors to share a single car park, entrance and catering facility. Both organisations conducted a survey to explore opportunities for future co-operation.

For more information on GROEN-Direkt, its sample fairs and webshop, click here.  www.groen-direkt.nl