A mini conference held at the Italian Embassy in London last week to promote the country’s horticultural industry and a new trade event called GreenItaly, was timed perfectly to coincide with the gardening enthusiasm created by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and government announcements about border trade.
Moderated by Tim Briefcliffe of the AIPH, the event heard from speakers including a landscape architect Antonella Melone, designer and researcher Cristina Morbi, editor in chief of Gardenia magazine Emanuela Rosa-Clot, sales manager with Giorgio Tesi Group Andrea Minghi, and Henry Williams of YouGarden based in Spalding.
Conversations revolved around how climate change has seen an increase in UK professionals seeking advice from Italian counterparts on best plants and practices for warmer, dryer conditions, and a need for landscape projects to be considered as providing ecosystem services to help negate the effects of weather extremes as well as being ornamental.
Rich mixes of plants in Italian landscapes comprising native and non-native species is strengthening biodiversity which is crucial as in some parts of Italy trees like ash, birch and ornamental cherries are proving to be almost impossible to establish.
With many UK garden centres enjoying good relations with Italian suppliers, especially when it comes to specimen plants and trees, it was encouraging to hear Henry Williams praise his Italian suppliers as being ‘the most professional and forward thinking in Europe’.
‘Over the last five years, the range of what they're growing has increased massively. I’ve also found they work the hardest out of many growers to understand the legislation and the issues we have. Its refreshing when the Italian growers ring up and ask ‘what have we got to do to help get this through and what needs to be done?”
From 15-17 October, GreenItaly will take place at the Fiere Di Parma. The show’s new format will focus on plants, accessories and technology for urban horticulture, will showcase the excellence of Italian horticultural stock and foster relations between everyone working with in the sector in UK and Italy.
https://green-italy.eu
https://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/1xxj5zgapyi
