The Horticultural Trades Association live-streamed a Town Hall to its members where they could hear from Defra and APHA representatives at a regional member event hosted by Joseph Rochford Gardens, Hertford.

HTA members had the opportunity to join key industry stakeholders both at the venue and online for an in-person panel discussion with Rebecca Grant from Joseph Rochford Gardens, HTA Technical Policy Manager Sally Cullimore, plus Jason Pollock from Defra and Tracy Wilson from APHA, who both joined remotely.

Topics included the transition to peat-free, the HTA’s policy work and business schemes, and the current Border Control Post issues felt by members across the UK.

Sally Cullimore, HTA Technical Policy Manager, said: “Streaming our regular members meeting in front of a live audience with a panel worked really well. We addressed recent issues experienced at the border, took questions and heard insights from members of the audience who grasped the opportunity to talk directly with APHA & DEFRA representatives. I really enjoyed the direct interaction with members and hope to see more of these hybrid on-site events in the future, which will bring HTA closer to our membership.”

Rebecca Grant, Joseph Rochford Gardens, said: “It’s great to have this event come together so quickly from an idea discussed in July this year. Jeremy from the HTA grabbed and ran with it to make it the success we’ve seen today. We’re so pleased to have been involved in the first HTA Town Hall Live. We felt that it would be worth holding if we had ten people, so we were thrilled with the turnout. It’s fantastic to bring members from the local area together as we all share the same problems and can help each other – it’s incredibly valuable. I encourage all HTA members to engage with events happening locally to them.”

The regional meeting also included a round-up video from the HTA policy and public affairs team at each recent political Party Conference: Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative.

The town hall was part of a regional member event series, which the HTA launched in August. Events have so far taken place in Scotland, Hampshire, Cornwall, West Midlands, Northern England, Yorkshire and the Northeast. These regional members events offer hundreds of HTA members a chance to network with fellow nearby members, hear from experts on important industry issues, and most importantly, express their voices and concerns to their regional member engagement manager, ensuring their opinions are listened to and valued.

Regional meetings are scheduled for the remainder of the year in further locations scattered across the UK, offering a wealth of opportunities for our members to learn, network, and contribute to the growth of our industry.

Members can watch back the HTA Town Hall Live: hta.org.uk/policy/hta-policy-town-halls-and-surgeries 

Register for an event: hta.org.uk/regional-member-events