Horticulture Connected Spring Volume 6 Issue 3

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

AUTUMN/WINTER 2019

News, analysis and trends in landscape, garden retail & edible horticulture

MAKING THE PHOENIX BLOOM BARRY LUPTON INTERVIEWS GARY GRAHAM

WHY ARE YOU IN BUSINESS?

TERRY O’REGAN REACHES RETIREMENT AND ASKS THAT VITAL QUESTION?

THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF HORTICULTURE IN IRELAND RACHEL FREEMAN REVIEWS THE INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE

MITTELSTAND LESSONS FROM GERMANY

DÓNALL FLANAGAN SHARES INSIGHTS FROM GERMAN NURSERIES STUDY TOUR

Volume 6 Issue 3

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01 / EDITOR

EDITOR BARRY LUPTON

YOU COUNT I recall sitting on a conference panel back in 2005, which featured a number of design professionals. The focus of the conference was encouraging design professionals to buy or specify Irish grown stock. As the discussion commenced, a renowned and vocal nurseryman laid into a panel member for not having visited his nursery or specifying his stock. I’ll never forget the panel member’s look of shock. His response to the nurseryman was simple: I don’t remember being invited.

The discussion that followed centred on the age-old problems in Irish nursery stock: communication, access to information, availability, quality, consistency and reliability.

Thankfully in the intervening years, many things have changed. Frequent open days, trolley fairs, rationalisation, social media utilisation, websites and improved communications have all helped buyers and specifiers use Irish plants wherever possible and appropriate.

In recent years I have had the opportunity to be involved in numerous large-scale projects. Through this work I have learned a great deal about the strengths and weaknesses of buying Irish. The most significant thing I have learned is that the Irish nursery sector is still behind the competition in terms of cost, consistency and reliability. With the click of a button, an order can be placed with a foreign broker and I can be guaranteed delivery at a specific time and place. I am also guaranteed quality, consistency and significant cost savings. In times of high pressure, where bean counters rule, these things are important.

While I am disappointed that the sector has not met the competition in all areas, I understand the economies of scale at

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

News, Analysis and Trends In Landscape, Garden Retail & Edible Horticulture

HorticultureConnected.ie

for daily news updates

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

AUTUMN/WINTER 2019

News, analysis and trends in landscape, garden retail & edible horticulture

MAKING THE PHOENIX BLOOM BARRY LUPTON INTERVIEWS GARY GRAHAM

WHY ARE YOU IN BUSINESS?

TERRY O’REGAN REACHES RETIREMENT AND ASKS THAT VITAL QUESTION?

THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF HORTICULTURE IN IRELAND RACHEL FREEMAN REVIEWS THE INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE

MITTELSTAND LESSONS FROM GERMANY

DÓNALL FLANAGAN SHARES INSIGHTS FROM GERMAN NURSERIES STUDY TOUR

Volume 6 Issue 3

Unit 3, CTEK Building Riverside Rd, Carrickmacross, Monaghan, Ireland +353 (0)42 966 3532

play make it near impossible.

I resent the bean counters, and their relentless pursuit of measurement, accounting and value engineering.

If the competition can’t be beat, then it’s time to think differently. All of us. We need to understand, embrace and communicate the value of buying Irish and we need to find ways to articulate it in ways that will appeal to the bean counters. What are the environmental, social and economic cost benefits of buying Irish…in pounds shillings and cents? What are the comparative carbon footprints of 2lt shrubs being grown locally or imported? How many families are kept above water through the purchase of Irish plants? What are the comparative establishment rates for local and imported stock? What are the comparative pest and disease implications? Do Irish plants have genetic advantages? As someone with the opportunity to choose, I want to have access to the answers and more; so that at the very least, I can present a case to clients. Without solid evidence, the bean counters win and the sector loses.

With the loss of four significant Irish nurseries in recent times and an absence of new ventures, I am nervous for the future of Irish horticultural production. But there are opportunities for those canny enough to tap in. Late stage capitalism, climate change, extinction rebellions, potential environmental collapse and the general sense that something is not quite right, offer the sector a chance to flourish and grow. We have moved a long way since that conference in 2005. We need to keep moving.

Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue.

Your valuable insights are very much appreciated. ✽

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

News, Analysis and Trends In Landscape, Garden Retail & Edible Horticulture

Editor: Barry Lupton editor@horticulture.ie Creative Director: Tanya Gilsenan tanya@horticulture.ie Marketing: marketing@horticulture.ie Editorial Assistant: Aileen Docherty Sales & Subscriptions: Anne Marie Browne annemarie@horticulture.ie Cover Photo by: Olivia Hutcherson Photos: Horticulture Connected Printers: Turners Printing

Print Run: 3,000 copies Distribution: Readership of 10,000 across Ireland to businesses and professionals in the following sectors: Landscape Architects / Garden Retail / Florists / Nurseries / Greenkeepers / Sports Surfaces / Local Authorities & Parks Departments / Machinery / Education / Edible Horticulture Publishers: Horticulture Connected Ltd HorticultureConnected.ie

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

1

CONTENTS

CONTENTS NEWS 03

Horticulture News

33 H OW GREEN IS YOUR BUSINESS? John Murphy reflects on his business practices in light of growing climate change concerns

IN PICTURES 06

Photos from Horticulture events

TEAGASC 08

All the latest news from Teagasc

EVENTS 10 Horticulture trade events BORD BIA 12

All the latest news from Bord Bia

JOBS 35 Latest horticulture jobs from INTERVIEW

36 MAKING THE PHOENIX BLOOM Interview with Bloom originator, Gary Graham about the show and his plans for the future.

EDUCATION

41 EDUCATION INVESTMENTS BARE FRUIT John Mulhern explain how investment in facilities and course offerings are really starting to show a return

RETAIL

15 AN EMOTIONAL BUSINESS Liam Kelly explores how spreading some love on the

shop floor can help the bottom line

NURSERY

17 MITTELSTAND LESSONS FROM GERMANY Dónall Flanagan shares some very useful insights from Germany

20

MAKING THE CASE FOR HORTICULTURE

Stiofán Nutty explores how changing times may provide an opportunity for those willing to exploit them

INSIGHT

23 WHY ARE YOU IN BUSINESS? Terry O’Regan reaches retirement, he asks a question we should all consider

25 IN PRAISE OF SWALES

RESEARCH 43

BIOCHAR POTENTIAL Drs. Karen O’Hanlon and Munoo Prasad explore the exciting potential of Biochar as a plant growth promoter

45 BEST4SOIL: DEVELOPING A DECISION

SUPPORT TOOL TO GUIDE CROP

ROTATION IN EUROPE Dheeraj S. Rathore and Dr Michael T. Gaffney share results from recent developments of Best4soil, a tool aimed at re-establishing soil health in Europe

EDIBLES

47 SUSTAINABLE EATING AND ITS IMPACT

ON THE PRODUCE SECTOR

Lorcan Bourke explores how rising environmental

awareness is impacting consuming habits

Feidhlim Harty explains why we need to see greater use of swales in the Irish landscape

29 THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF HORTICULTURE IN IRELAND: SYMPOSIUM REPORT

Rachel Freeman reviews the recent inaugural symposium on the use, benefits and future development of social and therapeutic horticulture in Ireland

2

Horticulture.jobs

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Winter/Autumn 2019

02 / NEWS

HORTICULTURE

NEWS INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE IRISH SOCIAL, COMMUNITY & THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE NETWORK On Friday 6th of September, more than 70 people from across the island of Ireland gathered at TU Dublin Blanchardstown to hear an array of speakers address the symposium theme of ‘Therapeutic Horticulture; Research, Practice and The Future’.

This was the inaugural symposium of the newly formed Irish Social, Community & Therapeutic Horticulture community, hosted by TU Dublin, and supported by Horticulture Connected, with organising committee members from GIY, Festina Lente, Airfield Trust, Teagasc Kildalton, WIT, Bradleys Horticulture and Greenside up.

In his opening address, campus principal, Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, acknowledged the breadth of disciplines among those present and noted that ‘It is here in this space, in this intersect of disciplines, that the magic happens’.

The symposium was a great success with guest speakers presenting on a variety of subjects and there was plenty of opportunities to network and share practice through the informal poster and networking session. The SCTH committee opened the floor to gain insight into what practitioners on the ground required of the network and there were three key messages, networking, education and professionalisation of the sector.

HUGE RISE IN ENTRIES FOR ALCI AWARDS 2020

In summing up, TU Dublin, lecturer, researcher and educational leader in the field of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, Rachel Freeman, noted the following, ‘It is clear from those present that they are looking around for recognised quality programmes of study to advance their practice in this field, this is something we are TU Dublin can provide. However, in addition to education, it is clear that they are seeking to be part of a group or network of support as many are working independently, they are seeking to network with other practitioners”. However, the question of professionalisation was less clear cut with Dr Joe Sempik cautioning the group to consider carefully how to proceed.

Throughout the event, the current global environment situation ran as an undercurrent to the day, and was foremost in the minds of attendees, and the day ended with practitioners encouraged and restored by the event and speaking of their intent to return to their respective places to try to impact those in their sphere of influence toward wellbeing with environmental care through the medium of therapeutic practice. More information visit SCTHIreland.com and queries can be forwarded to Rachel.freeman@TUDublin.ie

✽

While the ALCI Awards are for projects completed by landscape contractors and indeed many of these would have

Entries for this year’s ALCI Awards are currently being

been designed and built by ALCI members, it is noticeable

judged by Awards judges Gary Graham and Kerrie Gardiner.

that an increasing number of entries also feature the input

Ross Carew, Executive Secretary of the ALCI reports that

of third party landscape designers and landscape architects.

there was a bumper entry this year, with a total of 47 entries

It’s good to see different disciplines within the landscaping

in 13 categories in categories from 21 members.

industry collaborate to produce outstanding work.

Commenting on the most noticeable trends evident from

There has also been a noticeable increase this year in

this year’s entries, Ross commented that there are a number

entries in the Residential Development and Commercial

of themes worth highlighting. There are five different vale

Development categories. Again, this reflects a buoyant

categories for private gardens ranging from under €10,000 to

economy with a return of residential building after some quiet

over €100,000. In the last few years, there has been a noticeable

years and a marked increase in investment in landscaping by

increase in the complete cost of the average private garden

commercial property owners. Other trends evident from this

entry. That trend continues this year, with most private garden

year’s entries are the growing popularity of outdoor rooms

entries in the €50,000 €100,000 category and several in the

and entertainment areas, the increased use of artificial grass

over €100,000 category. Indeed, a few of these cost between

and low maintenance gardens, and the integration of outdoor

€250,000 and €500,000. So, overall it is very evident that there

lighting into garden design. The winners of this year’s ALCI

is a lot more money being spent on private gardens compared

Awards will be announced at a luncheon in the Convention

to five or so years ago.

Centre Dublin on 6th March 2020. ✽

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

3

NEWS / 02

LITTLE ENTERPRISES COUNT DOWN TO CHRISTMAS

COLM WARREN POLYHOUSES WORK ON MULTISPAN GREENHOUSE STRUCTURE

Little Enterprises are counting down

Down on The Apple Farm (Cahir, Co.

to the Harvest which will begin in time

Tipperary), Colm Warren Polyhouses

to deliver the first Christmas trees to

have been busy putting in a few

retailers starting on the 26th November.

weeks of hard work building a 28.8m

They still have some Nordmann fir

x 49.5m long Multispan Greenhouse

available in most sizes and informed us

Structure. The MultiSpan Greenhouses

that the labelling of trees has been done

frame is Galvanised CE marked steel,

and the quality is good. John Little told

with a gothic style vaulted roof. The

HC, “We look forward to supplying our

gutters and grip rails in the sides and roof are all a mill finished aluminium. The height of

customers and wish to thank all of them

the supporting steel uprights to the gutters is 3.5m. The Greenhouse will be completed

who have ordered with us this year.” For

with automatic roof ventilation with accordion style insect-proof netting in the roof vents.

more contact John on 086 8509644 or

The roof vent is a continuous 49.5m opening, driven by 400V De Gier 3 phase motors.

email littleentirl@gmail.com ✽

The sides of the Greenhouse have side ventilation with the insect netting secured into aluminium grip rails. There is an all-weather station control unit installed that has wind,

CHRISTMASWORLD: AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Christmasworld is the world’s biggest trend and order platform for the

rain and temperature controls throughout the Greenhouse. CWP told HC, “We are nearing completion and after the 1000g polythene covers are on we will just have to finish closing in the sides and then install the doors before finishing off the undercover fitted Mypex ground cover.” More at cwp.ie ✽

international seasonal and festive decoration sector, and therefore the perfect B2B trade fair for a great start to the new business season.

Christmasworld in Frankfurt am Main brings together manufacturers and retailers, as well as major commercial buyers from all over the world. The fair runs from 24-28 January 2020, Messe Frankfurt, Germany. More at Christmasworld.messefranfurt.com ✽

GLDA UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS The Garden and Landscape Designers Association have had an eventful 2019 thus far and the excitement is set to continue into the spring, with preparations already in full swing for their International Design Seminar 2020 on 29th February entitled, 'Seeds of Change Planting Design for the 21st Century'.

Ask An Expert” Clinic at The Ideal Homes Show, RDS Simmonscourt, 25-28 October 2019. The GLDA has been invited to host a design clinic table at this 4-day event. The oneto-one 20-minute clinics will be run by a team of members of the GLDA, with voluntary donations from the public going to the Peter McVerry Trust.

GLDA would like to wish candidates applying for Full Membership Assessments this October every success and due to increased applications this year, a second portfolio

BLOOM 2020 NOW ACCEPTING SHOW GARDEN APPLICATIONS

preparation workshop is planned for November, to be followed by another assessment

Bord Bia has announced that the

month with a theme of 'Communal Garden - A Design Challenge'. The competition

Bloom 2020 will take place over 5 days

welcomes student and graduate applicants from all over Ireland and full details, including a

from 28th May to 1st June 2020 in the

downloadable application form can be found on www.glda.ie.

Phoenix Park, Dublin. Garden designers

day in January 2020.

The second GLDA Student & Graduate Design Awards competition launches this

GLDA New look Compass magazine will be published early November to provide

and exhibitors wishing to stage or

members with another exciting and insightful read on garden and garden design-related

sponsor a garden are invited to submit a

topics, various GLDA ongoing activities, as well as expert perspectives and insights on

design for consideration by our Garden

local and international industry events of 2019 thus far.

Advisory Group (GAG). The final date

Finally, the GLDA would like to take this opportunity to include a special mention and

for submission of applications to be

word of appreciation to their new Administrator, Caroline Martin, who since coming on

included in the Garden Panel review is

board in the summer has embraced her role with gusto, professionalism and a high degree

Friday, 15th November 2019. Applicants

of efficiency, keeping everyone at GLDA on their toes! ✽

are strongly advised to submit their design for inclusion in this review which

GLDA DIARY DATES

will take place the following week, as

NOVEMBER

JANUARY 25th Full Membership Assessments FEBRUARY

this will speed up the review process

16th Portfolio prep workshop

and facilitate better planning and

22nd Publication of Compass magazine

29th 'Seeds of Change - Planting

scheduling for your garden. To find out

AGM & Xmas dinner

Design for the 21st Century' Seminar

more contact Kerrie Gardiner kerrie. gardiner@bloominthepark.com or call 086 130 4170 ✽

02 / NEWS GLOBAL INK HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PRINT YOUR PLANT PASSPORTS Global Ink have integrated their plant passport solution into their Brandsoft plant label software which also includes a barcoding system making it simple to produce bespoke plant labels. The system can be customised to each individual grower who can produce a single label with picture, description, logo, price, barcode and plant passport. As the main distributor of Flora labels in Ireland Global Ink have introduced new lines of adhesive labels, tags, thermal transfer labels and lots more. Their labels work with nearly all plant label software systems. In an exclusive offer to all HC readers, Global Ink are offering their new range of OKI C712dn printers at a special price until the 31st October 2019 (normally €928.00 ex vat now €673.00 ex vat - saving €255.00). Find out more at globalink.ie ✽

MULCH OPENS NEW FLAGSHIP STORE IN RATHFARNHAM Mulch, the award-winning organic compost and garden waste recycling specialist, has announced the opening of a new flagship store on Nutgrove Avenue in Rathfarnham. The environmentally conscious business has been operating in Coolock for the last seven years.

The move will double the footprint of the business and expand its reach right across the Greater Dublin Area. John McGuiness, former landscaper and Mulch Founder had this to say about the store, “Mulch offers a solution most people don’t even realise that they need – a convenient, environmentally conscious way to remove the garden waste they no longer need and recycle it into high-grade organic compost, which can then be used to nourish a garden. Since we began seven years ago, people’s awareness of the importance of living sustainably and choosing to buy products which are not damaging to our environment has sky-rocketed. This, coupled with an increased interest in GIY and DIY, has led to a demand for our service right across the Greater Dublin Area.” For further information visit www.mulch.ie ✽

ELITEFENCE’S SMARTFENCE SCOOPS AWARDS AT 2019 HARDWARE SHOW The Hardware Show 2019 saw SmartFence, a simple DIY solution to replacing wooden panel fencing, from EliteFence win the award for Best Garden Product and the Over All Innovation Award. The innovative steel PVC coated SmartFence can be retrofitted to existing posts with no fuss or mess and eliminating the need to paint your fence. The flatpack system is available throughout Ireland from DIY stores nationwide and is maintenance-free and comes with a 25-year guarantee.

Damien Keenan from EliteFence told HC, “We are delighted with the way the SmartFence has gone from strength to strength in such a short period of time. We’ve also recently added the optional extra of trellis panels that can give the SmartFence a warmer look and feel.” Find out more at www.elitefence.ie. ✽

NANGLE AND NIESEN 2019 OPEN DAY SUCCESS

rootballing trees, lifting of bare root trees with an examination of the vitally important fibrous root systems and correct tree

Nangle and Niesen held their second annual open day at their

care techniques. Discussions centred on the importance of

nursery in Aherla, Co Cork on Wednesday, September 25th

correct nursery practices like transplanting, effective pruning

October which again proved to be very successful. Attendees

and overall crown development, and how this provides for a

were significantly up from last year and were drawn from

much stronger healthier tree well suited to Irish conditions.

both the public and private sectors with local authorities,

Lunch on the day was centred on the barbeque with venison

landscape architects, garden designers and landscape

burgers from our own deer stock and organic salad from

contractors all well represented. Ronan Nangle led the

nearby Robinson’s Organic Farm, Toons Bridge mozzarella

nursery tour with visits to the fields to see the amenity and

and local Mealagulla Orchard apple juice and cider.

ornamental stock, their multistems and newer plantations,

Lifting of their rootball and bare root stock for sale will

and the mature specimens. The tour also took in the extensive

begin in earnest from the beginning of November. Nangle

clearance, advanced soil improvement techniques and

and Niesen welcome enquiries from both trade customers

replanting works which are on-going in the nursery.

and the private sector and visits to the nursery are always

Practical demonstrations included the process of lifting and

welcome by appointment. More at nangleandniesen.ie ✽

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

5

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

SOCIAL, COMMUNITY AND THERAPEUTIC

PHOTOS: HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

HORTICULTURE IRELAND

DR. JOE SEMPIK, DIARMUID O' CALLAGHAN TU DUBLIN BLANCHARDSTOWN CAMPUS PRESIDENT & RACHEL FREEMAN LECTURER IN HORTICULTURE

MUIREANN MORRIS & HILLARY DELANEY ST MARY'S HOSPITAL, PHOENIX PARK

MARGARET & KATHLEEN FINNEGAN OF FINNEGAN'S NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE

GLAS

MARC COYLE (FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL) & KEVIN HALPENNY (IRISH LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE)

DÓNALL FLANAGAN (TEAGASC) WITH THE SNRG SALES TEAM

6

GRAHAM BRADLEY (BRADLEYS SOCIAL & THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE) WITH DEE SEWELL (GREENSIDE UP)

NUALA, RACHEL, & JOE (JNR) YOUNG (YOUNG NURSERIES)

JOHN LITTLE & SARAH RUBALCAVA (LITTLE ENTERPRISES)

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

EIMEAR BROWNE

02 / NEWS SANCTUARY SYNTHETICS RELEASE SERIES OF HILARIOUS COMEDY SKETCHES IN NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN Sanctuary Synthetics have come together with comedian and actor, Mario Rosenstock to produce a series of online comedy sketches as a part of their new marketing campaign and to mark the launch of their new and improved website. The hilarious videos show Mario impersonating a host of VIPs at Sanctuary Synthetics Grassland HQ in Naas.

In timing with the new budget, the October sketches feature Mario’s take on Paschal Donohoe working at

ALEC SPAIN TREE CARE ADD AIR2G2 TO THEIR SERVICES Alec Spain Tree Care, who provide a comprehensive range of solutions for all tree care needs, have recently added to their services with the acquisition of an Air2G2 Soil Aerator. Their main service is tree root decompaction and they have modified the machine to allow for injection of Mycorrhizal fungi and other nutrients. The Air2G2 is also available for hire. Find out more at www. alecspaintreecare.ie ✽

Grassland and his comical style in customer care. Managing Director, Mark O’Loughin told HC, “We wanted to raise more awareness to Grassland, to encourage people to come and look at our displays in an amusing and entertaining way.” To view the “giftgrass” series of sketches visit www.giftgrass.ie or www.sanctuarysynthetics.ie ✽

IRISH PEACE GARDEN INAUGURATION On Sunday 8th September 2019, the Irish WW1 Centenary Peace Garden, located in the Hauts de France Somme region of Northern France, was officially inaugurated. It was designed and realised by Irish garden designer Peter Donegan. The opening of the garden was joined by hundreds of visitors including the Irish in France association, Bernard Musset (Sous Prefet de Peronne et de Montdidier) and Gilbert Fillinger of Art et Jardin HDF. The Jardins de la Paix (Gardens of Peace) are a series of permanent gardens on the site. Donegan was one of 14 international designers selected by a French jury to represent Ireland to design the garden in the grounds of the 13th Century castle. Donegan told HC, “To represent Ireland or your country at anything is without question very much an honour. But I don't believe anyone including I ever imagined it would be possible doing something that I have studied and have done all my life (horticulture), let alone in the design of a garden and certainly not for something at a level such as this, it's location and the reasoning behind. When one considers just what this means to a town, a country and a place that has suffered so greatly and then as I had hoped the garden would do, to see people smile there... It really is something quite special.” Donegan Garden Design and Landscaping has been established since 2001.

More at www.doneganlandscaping.com ✽

WHITE’S AGRI OFFERING ORGANIC/ INORGANIC FERTILISERS, BIO-STIMULANTS & BIOLOGICAL REMEDIES

FLEX LIQUIDS When utilising complex chemistry nitrogen is bonded in an Amide form allowing a complete range of macro and micro

Whites-Agri are a leading supplier to the amenity & edible

nutrients to be supplied to the plan where they are steadily

horticultural Sectors. Ger Doran tells HC ”We provide a

and effectively released and can be rapidly assimilated.

comprehensive range of seed, organic/inorganic fertilisers, biostimulants & biological remedies. We are proud that we back

S CHELATES

up all of our offered solutions with support not just from our

SB S-Chelate range of foliar applied macro & micro

agronomic consultants but also offer comprehensive soil audits &

nutrients. These highly efficient chelates are improved

tissue analysis. Our philosophy is to provide a holistic approach,

through organic chelation. Their chelating agent is produced

known as ‘Systemic Acquired Resistance’. This system, helps the

through a biological fermentation process instead of a

plant to build up its own immune system to disease & insects.”

synthetic chemical process and is less bioaccumulative

Two new exciting products they are proud to be working

than other chelated systems. The uptake thereafter is

with is a new form of liquid nutrition based on Amide Nitrogen

comprehensive and effective in a wide pH range via leaf or

feeding system.

soil application. More at www.whitesagri.com ✽

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

7

TEAGASC ezine / 03

SUMMARY OF KEY STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU ARE EXPORTING PLANT MATERIAL ON WOODEN PALLETS TO UK & NI IN THE EVENT OF A NO-DEAL BREXIT REGISTER FOR AN EORI NUMBER This is a unique reference number that every business will need to have for import/ export declarations when trading with a third country. It only takes a matter of minutes to register online via revenue.ie FIND THE COMMODITY CODES FOR EACH PRODUCT Commodity codes are based on the characteristics of the product. These codes will also be required for your import declarations and will help you to identify the relevant tariff rates. For more information visit prepareforbrexit.com UK TEMPORARY TARIFF RATES Once the commodity codes have been found, this list can then be checked to see the possible tariff rate.

CONSIDERATIONS It is important for companies to consider the following: 1. Do you have the capability to complete your declarations in-house or do you plan on using a customs broker?

2. Is your haulier willing to complete the customs clearance for you?

3. Have you spoken to your UK supplier?

4. Who is now responsible and pays for both UK export declarations and Irish import declarations?

5. Is there an alternative supplier within the single market that you can use instead?

For further information contact the BREXIT team at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine to see if there are any more requirements specifically related to horticulture. Visit www.agriculture.gov.ie/brexit ISPM NO.15 AND WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL (WPM) REQUIREMENTS IN THE EVENT OF A ‘NO-DEAL’ BREXIT WHAT IS ISPM NO.15?

ISPM No. 15 is an international phytosanitary (plant health) measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that sets down standards for the phytosanitary treatment and marking of Wood Packaging Material (WPM). WPM is a term used to describe pallets, crates, dunnage etc. used in international trade for the transport of goods of all kinds.

The aim of ISPM No.15 is to prevent the international movement and spread of disease and insects harmful to the health of plants, trees forests or ecosystems.

ISPM No. 15 does not currently apply Ireland-UK trade.

8

In the event of a No-Deal Brexit, the UK will leave the EU and become a third country (i.e. a non-EU Member State) on the 31st of October 2019.

ISPM NO.15 AND THE EXPORT OF GOODS USING WPM FROM IRELAND TO THE UK Wood Packaging Material (WPM) including pallets, crates and dunnage, used in the transport of goods moving from Ireland to the UK does not currently need to meet ISPM No.15 requirements. In the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit the position of the UK Government is “In the event of no deal, all WPM moving between the UK and the EU must meet ISPM15 international standards by undergoing heat treatment and marking. All WPM may be subject to official checks either upon or after entry to the EU. Checks on WPM will continue to be carried out in the UK on a risk-targeted basis only. The plant health risk from WPM imported from the EU is not expected to change as a result of an EU exit. For more information visit, www.gov.uk (Guidance/importing-and-exportingplants-and-plant-products-if-theres-no-withdrawal-deal) ISPM NO.15 AND THE IMPORT OF GOODS USING WPM FROM UK TO IRELAND The EU has indicated the following regarding imports into the EU. “As of the withdrawal date, the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects from the United Kingdom into the EU-27 will be governed by this Directive (Council Directive 2000/29/EC). This is, in particular, relevant for the introduction into the EU of wood packaging material: such wood packaging, whether or not actually in use for the transport of objects of all kinds, has to be compliant with a treatment and mark as specified in the FAO International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No 15 ('ISPM 15')”.

KEEPING UP TO DATE CONTACTS AND FURTHER INFORMATION ●D AFM & EU Brexit information is available at www.

agriculture.gov.ie/brexit and ●w ww.ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_

biosecurity_en Further information on ISPM No.15 is available at www.agriculture.gov.ie (forestservice/ foresthealthandseeds/ exportsofwoodpackagingmaterialispmno15) Any queries in relation to this matter can also be sent by email to ispm15@agriculture.gov.ie ✽

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

03 /TEAGASC ezine

TRIAL ON NEW WEED CONTROL

‘MALLING CENTENARY’ CONTINUES TO OUTSHINE T2

MEASURES IN CARROTS, CELERY AND PARSNIP

T1

Carrot, celery and parsnip growers lost linuron in the middle of 2018. This has been one of their key herbicides for the past number of decades. The purpose of the trial was to test out possible replacements for Linuron.

With this in mind Teagasc set up a series of replicated trials at Kinsealy in 2019 to test out new actives: Emerger, Flexidor and Hurricane. The results were interesting.

Emerger worked better than expected and will be a possible replacement for linuron in a tank mix with Stomp and Gamit in carrot, and with Stomp and Goltix in parsnip.

Flexidor caused crop damage at higher rates in both carrot and parsnip. Hurricane, a herbicide widely used in cereals, worked well in parsnip but caused some foliar scorch in carrot. A tank mix of Defy and Emerger was the best of the treatments in celery. We also looked at a number of herbicide combinations on leeks with the best result coming from Wing P a week after planting followed a week later by Defy and Lentagran.

Growers who visited the trials were very interested in the results and expressed the wish to see them repeated in 2020. Further information is available if you contact Stephen Alexander or Leo Finn at Teagasc Horticulture Development Department. ✽ T1: CONTROL PLOT T2: STOMP AQUA 2.9 + EMERGER 1.5 + GAMIT 0.2 L/HA (GOOD CONTROL WITH EMERGER IN A 3-WAY RESIDUAL TANK MIX)

UPCOMING EVENTS 23 OCTOBER - Teagasc Nursery Stock Seminar, Teagasc Ashtown, Dublin 15 at 9.30 to 1pm (contact Donall Flanagan)

Malling Centenary has now replaced ‘Elsanta’ as the number one variety grown in Ireland.This is primarily due to the outstanding quality of the fruit and enhanced harvesting speeds.The first of the ‘Malling Centenary’ trials finished recently at Teagasc Ashtown Development Department. Preliminary data show that a yield of over 1.3 kg per plant was obtained over the two growing seasons.

This is an excellent result for a two-season cropping system.The quality of the fruit was also excellent with a very high percentage of class one fruit picked.

‘Malling Centenary’ whilst classed as a short-day plant seems to be anything but due to its complex breeding mix which includes the long day (everbearing) Californian bred strawberry variety ‘Selva’.

It has been observed that if certain environmental conditions have been reached the plant begins to behave like a long day plant. Through our research, we are trying to identify what does exact environmental conditions are. The interaction between temperature and day length plays a big role. The accumulation of growing degree days may also be an important factor. More importantly, for the grower, if those environmental conditions are met the ‘Malling Centenary’ produces a second crop of fruit, which has economic benefits for the grower. Other factors we are looking at include, for example, the effect of planting date and planting density on subsequent production.

There are lots of questions that need to be answered.

Essentially what this also means is that the cropping programme which the industry has used for growing the ‘Elsanta’ strawberry variety over the last 40 years will be changed. Our research will play a role in guiding the way forward regarding production protocols.

With all of this in mind, we will be holding a strawberry farm walk on the farm of McCarthy’s Strawberry Growers, Daars, Sallins, Co. Kildare starting at 2 pm on Wednesday the 6th of November.

The main emphasis will be on discussing these new challenges in successfully and profitably growing ‘Malling Centenary’ on your farm. ✽

6 NOVEMBER - Strawberry Farm walk, McCarthys fruit farm, Sallins Co. Kildare at 2pm (contact Eamonn Kehoe)

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

9

EVENTS / 04

EVENTSDIARY EVENT PROMOTION Promote your event to a wide network of Horticulture businesses and professionals Inprint, Online & Social. Find out more at www.horticultureconnected.ie/events

DON’T MISS!

23 OCTOBER NURSERY STOCK SEMINAR Teagasc will host a nursery stock seminar in Ashtown.

There is an exciting lineup of national and international speakers. Event Time: 9:30 Venue: Teagasc Ashtown, Dunsinea lane, Ashtown, Dublin, D115 KN3K www.teagasc.ie ✽

26 – 27 OCTOBER BFA FLEUREX Commercial florists, floristry students and industry suppliers on the look-out for new products, innovative floral design ideas, new wholesale flower suppliers.

Venue: Jurys Inn Hinckley Island, Hinckley, UK www.britishfloristassociation.org ✽

30 - 31 OCTOBER SALTEX Turf management event for groundscare volunteers, professionals and manufacturers Venue: NEC, Birmingham, UK www.iogsaltex.com ✽

05 - 07 NOVEMBER TEAGASC CATCHMENT SCIENCE 2019 This is the third scientific conference hosted by the Agricultural Catchments Programme.

Venue: Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford www.teagasc.clr.events ✽

06 - 08 NOVEMBER TRADE FAIR AALSMEER Venue: Aalsmeer, The Netherlands www.tradefairaalsmeer.com/en ✽

6 NOVEMBER TEAGASC STRAWBERRY FARM WALK Venue: Albert & Gary McCarthy, Daars, Sallins, Co.Kildare www.salonduvegetal.com ✽

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19 NOVEMBER FUTURESCAPE Design . Build . Maintain Venue: Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey, KT10 9AJ Futurescapeevent.com ✽

19 NOVEMBER TEAGASC - BRIDGING SCIENCE AND THE CONSUMER Key market trends and implications for the Irish Food Industry Venue: Venue: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05 www.teagasc.ie/news--events ✽

DON’T MISS!

29 & 30 NOVEMBER TU OPEN DAY Venue: ITB Blanchardstown, D15 itb.ie/studyatitb/horticultureft.html

✽

6 DECEMBER JOINT TEAGASC/SRUC CONFERENCE: RURAL FUTURES II Event Time: 08:15 am to 05:00 pm Venue: Teagasc Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin www.teagasc.ie/news--events ✽

24 - 28 JANUARY FLORADECORA The market place for fresh flowers, ornamental plants, Tree nursery, potted bulbs, decorative glass, packaging materials, decoration products and much more.

Venue: Floradecora, Frankfurt, Germany www.floradecora.messefrankfurt.com ✽

DON’T MISS!

24 - 28 JANUARY CHRISTMASWORLD FRANKFURT

Christmasworld is the world’s biggest trend and order platform for the international seasonal and festive decoration sector – and therefore the perfect B2B trade fair for a great start to the new business season.

Venue: Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany www.Christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com ✽

To promote your event, please get in touch with marketing@horticulture.ie

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

04 / EVENTS 28 - 31 JANUARY IPM ESSEN

05 - 07 FEBRUARY FRUIT LOGISTICA

Seasonal Decoration at its best

24 – 28. 1. 2020 Irland

The international trade fair for plants (IPM ESSEN) is the world's leading trade fair for horticulture.

Venue: Messe Essen, Essen, Germany www.ipm-essen.de ✽

Venue: Messe Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany www.Fruitlogistica.com ✽

29 FEBRUARY GLDA ANNUAL SEMINAR

DU: 01.10.2019

DON’T MISS!

International design seminar 2020 'Seeds of Change - Planting Design for the 21st Century' for GLDA. Ticket sales available on our website.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, Santry, Dublin 9 www.glda.ie ✽

Kildalton is the largest agricultural college in the country.

Venue: Kildalton Agriculture College, Pilltown, Kilkenny www.teagasc.ie ✽

06 MARCH ALCI AWARDS Entries for this year’s ALCI Awards are currently being judged by Awards judges Gary Graham and Kerrie Gardiner.

Ross Carew, Executive Secretary of the ALCI reports that there was a bumper entry this year, with a total of 47 entries in 13 categories in categories from 21 members.

Venue: Convention Centre, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 www.alci.ie ✽

DON’T MISS!

12 MARCH TEAGASC COLLEGE OF AMENITY - BOTANIC GARDENS OPEN DAY

Find out more about what the college offers to prospective horticulture students. 12 - 3 pm Venue: National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, D9 www.teagasc.ie ✽

15 November 2019 BlOOM 2020 SHOW GARDEN APPLICATION DEADLINE The final date for submission of applications to be included in the Garden Panel review. To find out more contact Kerrie Gardiner at kerrie.gardiner@ bloominthepark.com or call 086 130 4170 ✽

Here you’ll find the widest range of seasonal and festive decorations, florist supplies, fresh flowers and garden decorations.

We look forward to seeing you! christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com

info@ireland.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 14 83 48 39 83

70237-006_CW_Gruene_Branche_Horticulture_Connected_88x262_SSP • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • js: 15.07.2019

DON’T 06 MARCH TEAGASC KILDALTON COLLEGE MISS! OPEN DAY

BORD BIA ezine / 05

LEAN PRODUCTION

THE INAUGURAL ORIGIN GREEN FARMER AWARDS - HORTICULTURAL PRODUCERS HONOURED

The Origin Green Farmer Awards recognise and reward the exceptional performance of its Sustainable Quality Assurance schemes for beef, horticulture and dairy. These schemes are pivotal to differentiating Irish food products in the global marketplace; participating farms meet high standards around food safety, animal health, welfare and traceability.

Twelve horticultural producers were shortlisted based on their overall audit performance and each were visited by an independent judging panel and assessed across sustainability topics including crop husbandry, health and safety, farm labour, local community involvement, environmental/biodiversity measures and energy usage. These finalists are among the top performing horticultural farms in Ireland producing high quality fresh produce. Judging for the Horticulture sector was completed by experts from Teagasc, University College Dublin and I.T. Blanchardstown.

In this edition of Horticulture News we are featuring a full profile of our winner in the Potato category:

POTATOES

KILMORE POTATOES LTD, KILMORE, CO. WEXFORD John and his brother, Chris Fortune, grow a wide range of potato varieties to cater to a number of market segments, including the planting of salad potatoes to meet a growing market segment commonly met by imported produce.

Kilmore Potatoes provide jobs to 8 full time staff and seasonal workers as required during the season. John is an advocate of changing energy supplier to get the best deals and reduce costs. Integrated pest management is practiced to reduce dependency on Plant protection products.

Key sustainability measures: ●B iodiversity measures include 30 acres of uncropped lands across the farm ● N utrient management practices include regular soil analysis aimed at

addressing any deficiencies matched to crop needs ●U se of precision GPS guided equipment ●D iversification of varieties grown to access new markets

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✽

Bord Bia carried out a Lean pilot in the mushroom sector in 2016 in conjunction with the industry using the EI LeanStart model. This was done to assess the usefulness of Lean in improving productivity amongst growers affected by the fall in the value of sterling.

Following the success of the pilot project, Bord Bia worked with other horticultural sectors on a pilot basis and are now offering some support to all sectors from 2019 Lean manufacturing or lean production, often simply "lean", is defined as a systematic method for waste minimisation within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity.

A Lean consultant works with producers in a dedicated one on one basis, looking at the business as a whole, and then selecting an area to focus on. The process is intensive, and requires a high level of commitment for success, but has resulted in considerable cost savings and increases in productivity.

The benefits of Lean to growers as demonstrated in the pilot programmes to date are an increase in productivity and substantial cost savings.

The projects typically concentrate on big cost centres within the business, especially labour and energy use. There is also a heavy emphasis on metrics – e.g. labour performance versus last month, versus this time last year, and a reduction in waste – what proportion of production is not sold, and why.

Bord Bia has been following the Enterprise Ireland model of Lean because it is tried and tested. There are three options open to growers– LeanStart, LeanPlus and GreenStart.

There will be limited funds available for Lean projects 2020 – please contact Michal.slawski@bordbia.ie for more information. ✽

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

05 / BORD BIA ezine NATIONAL POTATO DAY Bord Bia engaged with third level students across the country to revitalise the potato among younger consumers to celebrate National Potato Day on Friday 4th October last, Bord Bia launched a campaign to encourage people to #LikeShareCookSpuds and help move potatoes from ‘on-theboil’ to ‘on-line’ in order to drive engagement with younger demographics.

Earlier this year, Bord Bia research identified that generation Z (aged 18 to 23) consumers are interested in tasty, convenient recipes to cook, and appreciate the nutritional information of foods. However, an information gap exists as they do not believe potatoes are as deserving as other foods to photograph and share online due to a lack of visibility of suitable recipes.

In the week leading up to National Potato Day, Bord Bia visited UCD, DCU, NUIG and UCC where students were given a ‘Potato Survival Kit’ which included time saving tips, nutritional advice, simple potato recipes, handy video links and some fresh potatoes to cook. The students were also encouraged to visit the potato.ie website for simple recipe inspiration and to share their favourite recipes on social media.

As part of the National Potato Day campaign, Lorcan Bourke, Fresh Produce & Potato Manager at Bord Bia said, “We know that Irish people love their spuds but our research identified barriers to potato purchase including a lack of awareness of the ease of preparation and nutritional benefits.

Potatoes were often associated with traditional cooking methods, with generation Z consumers unaware of their multicultural and international usage. This campaign aims to address this information gap by connecting with students and younger demographics.”

Recipes and Information with more than 140 potato recipes to choose from, Bord Bia’s Potato.ie website is brimming with ideas and offers something for everyone. With breakfast and brunch options such as Mexican Huevos Rancheros and Potato Pancake with Smashed Avocado and Smoked Salmon; lunch dishes like Atlantic Seafood Chowder and Asian Spiced Potato Crab Cakes with Rainbow Slaw; and dinner favourites including a Hot Wok Potato and Beef Stir-Fry and Light Massaman Chicken and Potato Curry.

In addition to the student campus activity, a number of events took place around the country to celebrate National Potato Day including an appearance at the Dingle Food Festival in partnership with Feile an Phráta and Bord Bia. ✽

ARE YOU BREXIT READY?

GROMÓR 2019 The Gromór gardening campaign finished up in mid-September, and consisted of a mixture of activities including PR, social media and digital advertising, with support from nurseries, garden centres, Westland and number of other commercial sponsors. Many of the garden centres have GroMór, POS material from previous years, so this was not an element in 2019.

Results from the digital side of the campaign were impressive. Unique users were up 90% to just under 40,000, and page views were up 235%. There are 20,000 followers on Facebook, with the best figures for the GroMór launch post (37,000 reach) Hydrangeas (17,000) and Bloom tickets (16,000). A combined total of 57 videos were edited/repurposed/created and shared across the website and social media. These resulted in 218,000 video views with the campaign video having the most views with 23,000. Going forward, the future of the digital campaign is in engagement, and building up an online community through sharing and tagging.

There was a Quality Mark Plant Village at Bloom (with a GroMór voucher offer), GroMór garden centres featured on the garden stage at Bloom, and the GroMór and Bloom websites were linked. ✽

Bord Bia is running a number of Brexit events and workshops, it's never too late to get informed about Brexit and how it will impact your business.

Bord Bia’s 2019 Brexit Barometer has played a vital role in enabling its client companies to identify, assess and prepare for the challenges that Brexit has created. The Brexit Barometer is a risk diagnostic tool that focuses on six key risk areas related to Brexit: customer relationships, supply chain, customs and controls, financial resilience, market diversification and emerging risks. In addition to helping companies measure their exposure and preparedness, the Brexit Barometer outlines the support services that Bord Bia has created in response to the findings within the report.

The BREXIT Action Plan provides practical information that client companies can utilise in order to prepare for increased complexity in UK trade, and therefore mitigate the risks posed by Brexit. Each section of this Action Plan includes ‘how to guidelines’ accompanied by a check list to help guide companies through potential next steps and actions to consider.

A full list of Bord Bia’s support services which are free, including Supply Chain Mentoring, Financial Risk Mentoring, Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Mentoring, and Customs Readiness Training, can be found on the BREXIT area of the Bord Bia website, along with information on other State supports available. www.bordbia.ie/industry/brexit ✽

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

13

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COMMUNAL GARDEN - A DESIGN CHALLENGE SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 5PM FRIDAY, 17TH JANUARY, 2020 (On-line submission)

JUDGING DATE SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY, 2020

JUDGING PANEL GLDA Council Members

CATEGORY ONE APPLICANT Any STUDENT on the Island of Ireland currently studying an (accredited) garden design, landscape architecture, horticulture related course or landscape skills training course CATEGORY TWO APPLICANT Any GRADUATE from the above approved courses who qualified in 2018 - 2019

PRIZE AWARDS Best Category One (Student) Concept Master Plan Design - iPad MINI Best Category Two (Graduate) Concept Master Plan Design - iPad MINI Best Innovative Concept Detail Award 2020 - TROPHY Best Planting Design 2020 - TROPHY Each winner plus 2 runners up from each category will receive FREE entry to the GLDA Seminar on Saturday, 29th February, 2020 plus GLDA (Pre-reg) Membership for 2020 To find out more or to request an application pack and design brief, 14 HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019 email studentawards@glda.ie • www.glda.ie Sponsored by: GLDA, The Kildare Gallery & Eastwise

06 / RETAIL

EMOTIONAL BUSINESS

© LASSEDESIGNEN/123RF.COM

Independent retail consultant, Liam Kelly explores how spreading some love on the shop floor can help the bottom line

T

Those of us of a certain age will remember John Lydon singing about anger being an energy in the post-punk 1980s, and although I’m quite sure his words were to do with the usefulness of that emotion in social and political commentary and action - a meaning far away from the world of business and retail – it’s fair to say that emotions are at the fore of almost every business decision too. Even in those where it isn’t overtly perceived or displayed, you can be pretty sure there is at least a fragment of sentiment sitting deep beneath our choices and reasons for reaching a certain conclusion. None of us are completely immune to our feelings, so no matter how much we like to think that we are making cold and clinical decisions, we are really all slaves to emotions.

The study of emotions, their interaction and intensity have been discussed in great detail from a psychological point of view by many, but here I want to discuss how certain emotions can influence retail, in particular decisions you make and your contact with others, from customers to colleagues to suppliers. If you wish to explore the intellectual side of the topic, a good starting point would be someone like Robert Plutchik who describes emotions as being in a threedimensional, varying intensity, interconnected world. He breaks

emotions down at a mid-intensity level to anger, anticipation, joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness and disgust, and I’m sure that everyone has experienced all of these in their business to various degrees. From here on we will leave Mr Plutchik out of the discussion and just use his emotional descriptors, although I would urge you to check out his Wheel of Emotions, which is coincidentally quite flower-like, as we see how these emotions interact with the various areas of retail.

Heading back to my post-punk reference starting point, I must agree with Mr Lydon, as I have always found anger to be something useful and mind-focussing, although I can appreciate it certainly affects different people in different ways. I think a key point is how we use any emotion and the need, at the very least, to attempt to turn all emotions into a positive force, as anger can be a great driver towards success as well as something debilitating and dangerous. Anger in its purest form can be channelled into productivity and make you more focussed to succeed, and in that achievement, you will find a release for that anger. This can be a successful modus operandi in dealing with what can be an incapacitating emotion, it should be used in a controlled release to drive projects and a desire to prosper in the face of naysayers and those who wish us ill.

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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RETAIL/ 06

ANGER – ENERGY, FOCUS AND DRIVE ANTICIPATION – ENTICEMENT, FOMO AND NEED JOY – PASSION, POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE AND INFECTION TRUST – HONESTY, UNDERSTANDING AND RELATIONSHIP FEAR/SADNESS/DISGUST – COMMUNICATE, DISCUSSION AND ERADICATION SURPRISE – THE WOW FACTOR, EXCITEMENT AND WONDERMENT

The next emotion, anticipation, is a useful driver for marketing projects when trying to build up to various events or seasonal openings in retail. Selling the concept of the opening of a new department within any store should include external marketing on social media -and elsewhere - that involves releasing teasers as to what will be for sale. You need to make the customer want to visit by building up in their minds that sense of anticipation, playing on their fearof-missing-out which has become such an important factor in advertising. One of the most important traits in marketing is empathy, as you need to think like the customer and even move beyond that want to an actual need to enter your store to see your Next Big Thing.

Joy as a feeling might be better twisted into passion here but in a non-licentious sense of course, and in many ways this is the most self-explanatory and easy to apply for any of our emotions. This kind of passion should be part of everyday life in any business but is sadly absent in many.

There should be joy for what you are doing instilled in every person working in retail, a tall ask I agree but we should at least be striving to achieve this goal, no matter how pie-in-the-sky the idea might be. The role of management should be to strive to achieve this type of emotion within the organisation, in order that it is then passed on osmosislike to customers, many of whom have a love for plants and gardening anyway, and once again this is another emotion that works well when marketing to the masses.

The feeling of trust is self-explanatory, as it should be part of the ethos of any organisation, but it does require earning, or so they say. But perhaps we should start with that position of trust in one another and look at it as something that can be lost instead of earned? It’s an issue that I’m sure many have struggled with in the past when being let down by those who you thought would understand or empathise with you, but as I discussed in previous writings that empathy is sadly lacking in many organisations, where egos and self-serving rhetoric take hold. But it’s important that even with all of this in mind, it is still best to at least strive to commence any business or interpersonal relationship from that default position of trust.

Unlike anger, the trinity of fear, sadness, and disgust I would class as negative emotions and ones that should be eradicated from the workspace and from our lives in general, which is a no simple task I can appreciate. While many would lump anger in here too, I personally don’t see them in any way similar. No one should run an organisation based on fear, and

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sadness needs to be dealt with on an individual basis. Disgust, which in truth can highlight issues that need addressing, and that can – and should - be talked about in an open and frank way. All of these emotions need to be talked about in order to neutralise them, so once again - as with so many issues - it comes down to communication within the workplace.

We will end our journey through Plutchik’s emotions on a high note, as the feeling of surprise is surely one of the most important emotions to elicit from customers. We can call it The Wow Factor or whatever other term we like but it is the one feeling you want everyone who enters your store to have, and if you only take one message out of this article then that should be it. This surprise can be brought about in many ways such as your exciting range of plants, your wonderful Christmas shop, the range of cakes in your restaurant or just giving the customer a little gift when parting the store. In truth, it does not matter how, where or when you do it so long as you do it.

As ever I have simplified much of this and I would urge you to delve deeper into the science of emotions if you want a more rational – if such a word can be used when dealing with feelings – and balanced insight into how all of the above play with the psyche. But, from a purely business and retail point of view, I think you can see how vitally important all of this is in having a successful and healthy business, both in the financial sense and in the business-wellness point of view – if that’s not too trite a point.

Get to know the emotions that influence the dynamics of your workplace; nurture the positives and confront the negatives… just don’t forget that anger is an energy! ✽

LIAM KELLY - Liam Kelly is one of the leading specialist consultants on the retail side of Irish horticulture.

His in-depth knowledge, experience and no-nonsense approach are highly valued across many businesses in this sector, including garden centres, nurseries to hardware stores. He can be contacted at 086 8221494 or via lksolutions@eircom.net

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

07 / NURSERY

MITTELSTAND, LESSONS FROM GERMANY

Teagasc Nursery Stock Advisor, Dónall Flanagan shares some very useful insights from a recent study tour covering German Nurseries and the Baumschule Technik Trade show Labour shortages are a common concern across horticulture and it was no different here. The nurseries attitudes tended towards decreasing staff turnover by offering good working conditions and supporting school leavers as new young entrants. Employees were cared for both as a social responsibility but also as a matter to help retain them. For example, Clasen nursery had introduced a comprehensive uniform policy where high-quality clothes were provided and laundered every week. The professionalism of the business was seen immediately. Indirect employee benefits can be an issue as seasonal workers can end up with greater take home pay than full-time employees due to tax and accommodation allowances. This disparity has caused friction

T

he German region of Schleswig-Holstein is highly regarded for its range and quality of ornamental plant output. Between Hamburg and the Danish border, there are around 400 nurseries that together manage around 4,200 hectares, with the Pinneberg district at its heart. The region has long been an important training ground for many nurserymen and women, including those from Ireland.

Teagasc organised a study tour for nine nursery stock growers to visit a range of specialist nurseries, and the renowned Baumschuletecknik trade show in August.

Each nursery visited had a distinct focus. Efficiency goes hand in hand with German production and this is part of the philosophy of Mittelstand. The term loosely translates as SME, but encompasses key aspects that have made German businesses some of the most highly productive and profitable in the world.

The area has similar rainfall to the east of Ireland and higher summer temperatures. Growers pay for groundwater used, so many nurseries store rainwater with up to 10 days capacity. Most nurseries already collect water run-off from closed system beds, but all nursery beds in the future will be required to recapture run-off. This is not necessarily expensive, as beds can be prepared on soil and renewed by contractors every few years.

LEFT: TOURING HACHMANN NURSERY RIGHT: HAROLD LAWLOR AND UDO HALTERMANN DISCUSS MAGNOLIA PRODUCTION PHOTO PG 18: IRISH NURSERY GROWERS VISIT REINKE NURSERY PHOTOS BY DÓNALL FLANAGAN

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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for some and a challenge in filling full-time positions. Speaking about labour shortages, nursery owner, Udo Halterman has looked closely at automation. He purchased a Greentec finger bar hedge cutter; “It used to take two weeks for two people to prune all our stock, now I can do it on my own over a weekend”.

All nurseries visited, bar one, were using bark mulch on their pots. Most were using a self-binding Klassman product. It was impressive to see pots on their side still holding all of the mulch.

As you would expect all sites were virtually weed-free, in turn addressing productivity of labour.

Lorenz Von Erhen (LVE) has six sites covering an area of over 400 hectares. They produce high quality extra heavy standard trees and uncommon mature specimens.

The machinery is of a size to match this and likely some of the biggest tree lifting systems available. The company takes on apprentices regularly and hosts work placement students from across the world in their attractive on site accommodation. Thomas Dieckman production manager said they welcome requests for placements and he takes personal responsibility for students to experience a range of skills.

Due to the size of the production area, LVE have numerous rights of way on their sites. They have helped to maintain local goodwill by planting blocks of wildflower and pollinator mixes along these paths and near villages.

Marcus Lehmann is third generation in the family nursery Baumschule Lehman. Marcus explained how the nursery has developed some branded concepts for the business which he hopes sets him apart from others in the garden centre market. Much of the branding has focused on child friendly fruit plants and gardening. The business has a newly established webshop for retail customers. Neils Reinke is another 3rd generation nurseryman. Reinke nursery produces a wide selection of plants including native plants used in land restoration schemes. These are produced in pots due to the season being longer than for bare roots.

Kordes Young Plants reputation for producing quality plants is widely renowned. The business has seen its focus move towards breeding and higher quality plants and away from a wide range of common shrubs. Its main partners are the US nurseries Bailey and Spring Meadow. Attention to detail was seen at every point in the production cycle and on the nursery, not least in customer care and support.

Hachmann Rhododendron are specialist rhododendron and conifer producers. They have innovated where gaps were seen e.g. over a few years breeding new lines of Potentilla with much better flowering longevity. They have been able to take advantage of plant health restrictions in Scandinavia by collaborating with a specialist company in the Netherlands that washes plant roots, free of growing media before shipment. The cost has been a barrier to other volume, mid-

18

quality growers and in some way helped protect this market.

The specialisation of nurseries was demonstrated again in the adjacent nursery. Established in 1912 Spilkers young plant nursery, recently began to focus production of specialist stock of Magnolia. High demand and value of the plants has allowed owners, Udo and Thiemo Haltermann, reinvest their cash flow in new land and superior growing structures. These plants now ship across Europe and bare root to Asia and North America after root washing in the Netherlands as per the Rhododendrons Clasen nursery deliver a narrow but specialised range of containerised fruit trees, conifer and heavy standard trees.

This was the only nursery visited not using bark mulch for weed suppression, instead relying on trade secret, traditional herbicides. Each plant type was strictly scheduled, fitting into a precise annual format. The organised nature of the site and the incredible level of uniformity for each product line was striking; thus easing the bottle neck at dispatch and ensured customer satisfaction.

In each location it was apparent that producing quality products and long term value for their customers was paramount.

FEATURES OF MITTLESTAND COMPANIES 1. Long-term value as central goal 2. F amily owned and cultural focus 3. Innovation and quality products– allied to funding and research centres

4. Decisions focused on long term results e.g. investments in the workforce

5. Competitive clusters e.g. Pinneberg district 6. Social responsibility – to develop a thriving business is to develop an economy and thus society

7. W orkforce training using a dual system of schools and workplace

BAUMSCHULE TECHNIK TRADE SHOW – AUTOMATION AND LABOUR The open air trade show attracts businesses and families to see the latest innovations and introductions of new or emerging technologies. About 8,000 people attend this year from 24 countries. The venue is the nursery research centre in Schleswig Holstein LKSH. It had open fields planted with tree and field nursery stock available to see machinery being demonstrated. As it’s only held once every three to eight years it’s useful in helping growers to shape their development plans in the medium term. Hundreds of the leading companies for field or container production were present including; Egedal, SMZ, Damcon, Javo, Mayer etc. Common themes of the machine innovations were conservation of resources (soil, water, energy) and labour.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

07 / NURSERY Self-propelled machinery with self-guided steering was a major topic of the event. Most machines demonstrated how driving could be automated to reduce labour demand.

The Andela solar weeder is powered by sunlight with PV panels on the canopy over the weeding rig. It travels at up to 1km per hour and costs c.€7000 for a self-steering two-person rig. FMR Maskiner working with Agrointelli have developed a self-propelled diesel tool carrier which was capable of a range of low traction work e.g. seeding, spraying, weeding, etc. The twin diesel engine “robot” costs in the region of €100,000 and requires laser guidance to work independently. German compact tractor manufacturer Agria displayed the 9600, zero turn track mulcher/ mower that is completely operated by remote control and is ideal for very steep banks. Robot Makers demonstrated the RowCropPilot in use in tree lines. This machine is autonomously guided by lasers and was set on a tracked machine with a Damcon ULV sprayer and mower.

Autonomous robots for moving plants and spacing have been seen in the sector for a year or two. There has been a slow evolution of the robots over this time, from moving one plant at a time from A to B within a set area (Harvest automation), to collecting and moving five plants in a wider work space by the Trooper robot (Instar Robotics).

Laser is taking over from GPS in guiding the robots due to its increased reliability in glasshouses. The labour saving

potential of the robots is obvious, having a system that works overnight spacing or assembling orders that come in online etc. Pricing would suggest it would take three years to reach break even point for either of these machines.

Technical innovations were seen in many field production activities for example weed control using electrocution, steaming, hot water and high-pressure cold water.

Technical refinements were seen across the board from soil sterilization systems to precision inter-row weeders. The show demonstrated the nursery stock sectors push towards reducing labour, efficient use of resources and minimising zenvironmental impact. ✽

DóNALL FLANAGAN is based with the Horticulture Development Department in Ashtown, serving the nursery stock and ornamental sector. He has been working with Teagasc since 2007 and in his current role since 2016.

Dónall Flanagan - Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre Mobile: 087 703 5823; Tel: 076 111 402; Email: donall.flanagan@teagasc.ie

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19

NURSERY / 07

@ELNUR AMIKISHIYEV/ 123RF.COM

MAKING THE CASE FOR HORTICULTURE

HIF coordinator, Stiofán Nutty explores how changing times may provide an opportunity for those willing to exploit them

O

verall 2019 has been a very good growing season with a good balance of sun, rain and heat. Despite this, there is an unsettled feeling among those of us working in horticulture.

A challenging labour market, poor margins, Brexit fears and increasingly changing weather patterns make this a very uncertain time. The world is changing on many fronts and consumer needs are changing too.

HIF is working to support the horticulture industry through some of these challenges and to position the industry to take advantage of opportunities that are emerging. Our information seminar held earlier in the year, on the pilot work permit programme appears to be bearing fruit. At a meeting with the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation

“The increasing trend towards plant-based diets here at home and internationally potentially provides opportunities for horticulture”

20

(DBEI), the IFA learnt that a total of 322 horticulture work permits, which enable producers to employ staff from outside the EU and EEA, had been issued by the start of September last. Given that there is a total of 500 permits available until May 2020, it is likely that all the permits will be taken up in the coming months. Overall, the pilot has been a success but there have been some teething problems and unsuccessful applications. In the coming months, HIF will review the pilot and will be working to secure an accessible and more permanent scheme beyond May 2020.

The increasing trend towards plant-based diets here at home and internationally potentially provides opportunities for horticulture. This trend to plant-based diets is cited in the supporting information supplied by DAFM as part of its Agri-Food 2030 public consultation. In HIF’s submission to this consultation, we have outlined several areas were horticulture can contribute to the development of AgriFood. However, HIF has also used its submission to urge that a substantial increase in resources, particularly in the area of R & D is required to support the industry to exploit the opportunities that are emerging. HIF proposes that R & D resources of a proportional scale (to those afforded to other sectors) are provided to Horticulture, through Teagasc and other appropriate channels. More R & D is required to guide, advise and inform our capacity to grow new crops and improve the production of existing crops. The HIF submission

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

07 / NURSERY also highlights the contribution that amenity horticulture can make to improved mental and physical health, and underlines how the growing of more fresh produce can help the fight against obesity. To really exploit these opportunities the horticulture industry needs to undertake effective marketing.

Although the potato and mushroom sectors have managed to access available EU funding to undertake generic marketing campaigns, other sectors have to date, failed to do this. In the coming months, HIF will be discussing the potential of the industry to raise funding across all sectors. If this can be achieved, it would enable the industry to leverage additional national and EU funding to support the development of horticulture in Ireland.

DAFM has conducted one public consultation in relation to its Climate Change Adaptation plan and is expected to launch a second Climate Change public consultation on its Mitigation Plan in the coming months. HIF has through its Adaptation submission (and will through its Mitigation submission) highlighted the significant contribution horticulture can make to the National Climate Action plan by supporting Ireland to become more food secure through growing more fruit and vegetables here, by growing and planting more trees to capture carbon and by transitioning some agriculture land from ruminant production to crop growing, which would reduce national GHG emissions.

It is a time of great uncertainty, but horticulture can provide many solutions to the challenges that we face. This industry

has begun to work more closely together. The formation of a number of new Producer Organisations is now likely and will increase the cohesiveness of this industry. HIF is also striving to support greater cohesiveness. If we work more closely together, we can build a prosperous and sustainable future for the horticulture industry. Ní neart go cur le chéile! ✽

STIOFÁN NUTTY has been involved in commercial horticulture for over 30 years. In that time he has built an expansive experience and knowledge base across the horticultural spectrum. He has owned and operated a nursery business, an award-winning garden centre, worked extensively in education and TV and was appointed as special advisor to the Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent.

In 2010 he was appointed as special advisor to the Minister for Sustainable Transport, Horticulture, Planning and Heritage Ciaran Cue. Over the past six years Stiofán has facilitated and moderated fifteen European and global conferences in Ireland, Brussels and the UK, he was appointed as the coordinator of the Horticulture Industry Forum in 2015.

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08 / INSIGHT

WHY ARE YOU IN BU SIN ES S

©DMITRIY SHPILKO/123RF.COM

As the owner and operator of BHL Landscape Group, Terry O’Regan reaches retirement, he asks a question we should all consider

A

s I work my way through a rather long-drawnout retirement process - ending 50 years of close involvement with the landscape sector, old and new questions circle my head like a noisy murder of crows.

The most irritating new question from well-meaning friends and neighbours inevitably is – “What will you do now that you are retiring?” I usually respond that I expect to continue to be busy with ventures linked to horticulture, landscaping, the greater landscape and more besides and I will continue writing for as long as you keep reading.

For 44 of those afore-mentioned 50 years, I have with my fellow director run a landscape services business. One day, in the early years (before grey hair and geriatric pains arrived) I was chatting with a client - a successful Cork businessman – and out of the blue he asked me, “Terry, why are you in business?” Caught off-guard and thinking that he was referring to our landscaping activities as such, I stumbled through a few answers all spun around a qualification in horticulture, a lively interest in plants and gardens and a desire not to be confined to an office all day. He listened patiently and then said, “Terry, you are in business to make

money and never forget that reality!”

His question and answer have echoed through my head over the intervening years as I strove with my fellow director and work colleagues to run a quality landscape business and make money.

I am sure it was at the back of my mind some twenty years later as we discussed the year-end accounts for the preceding year when I posed a question to our accountant – “We never seem to make much profit in this business, despite hard graft and long hours?” He replied that we do make money – we earn our salary and that is our profit. It made no difference when I protested that I could probably earn the same salary as an employee and go home free of work worries at 5.00 pm each day. He smiled kindly and added, “that is the price of being self-employed.”

Another awkward Q & A exchange occurred regularly in association with the year-end accounts when I would question the outcome for the year noting that I probably should have taken some different decisions. He regularly responded that I should prepare monthly accounts. I only finally took his advice in 2012 as we faced the full painful impacts of the Celtic Tiger crash. The exercise proved vital

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

23

INSIGHT / 08 to our success in riding out that storm.

A linked old question that calls up scenarios almost as stressful as the Leaving Certificate Exam figured in those visits to the bank manager (back when banks had managers and not robotic tediums* at the distant end of a phone line). As I made my case for a loan, my bank manager enquired, “Will you be generating sufficient profits to repay the loan applied for?”

Profit is a strange word – sometimes enterprises are praised if they are profitable, but sometimes that is attacked. It has appeared to me over the years that I am not the only one suffering from confusion and delusion.

Profit is not dirty money and my Cork businessman was right: all enterprises and SMEs, in particular, have to be making money. Not to fund a luxury lifestyle, but to generate the cash to pay off bank loans and machinery, vehicle leases and to build a rainy-day fund to provide for future liabilities and cover unexpected crises. We would not have survived the Celtic Tiger crash if we had not built a modest fund in the preceding hectic years.

Looking back, I realise that one of the key characteristics of being a self-employed employer is a willingness to provide answers to questions regardless of whether you have the right answer; or more importantly, have asked the right question.

Growing up in the guilt-ridden church/state 1950’s Ireland many were tortured with decisions as to whether they had succumbed to committing a mortal sin or whether it was just one of those almost inconsequential venial sins (there were long lists of diverse sins to choose from!). Moral code behaviour has moved on to more enlightened times with fewer lists and informed consciences.But in business there is still a case to differentiate between mortal questions and venial questions as the penance for a wrong answer can be painful.

With the benefit of hindsight, I suggest you might classify questions about whether you are making money as of mortal importance. There are a few other questions that fall into the same category and then there are millions of venial questions to pester you every working day. The danger for us all is that we can drown in a sea of venial questions and not spot the shark-like mortal questions in time.

So why was I in business? If the truth be told, it was primarily because I was made redundant back in 1975 from Goulding Horticulture after five years of service. Five years in which I learned the basics of landscape operations. I may well have made the move anyway as I suffered from the tendency to answer obvious questions – not a good trait for a successful employee. Of course, I also thought I would make some money.

Leafing through my articles in past issues of Horticulture Connected and Horticulture and Landscape Ireland, I seem to have tried to have posed a few questions over time and to have suggested the occasional answer. Looking forward to a busy and productive retirement I would welcome questions and suggestions re possible topics from readers – terryjoregan@gmail.com. *A ‘tedium’ is a millennial person in a financial institution who knows nothing about your business and understands even less, he/she never met you and comes armed with a setlist of boxes to tick and the survival of your enterprise may well hang on one missing tick. ✽

24

“We never seem to make much profit in this business, despite hard graft and long hours?”

Now in his early seventies,

TERRY O’REGAN

with roots in Galway & Waterford qualified in 1969 with an honours degree in Horticulture from UCD and pursued a career in the Irish landscape sector for some 50 years as contractor and consultant before retiring this year. For much of that time he was also an active advocate for the bigger picture perspective and thinking outside the landscape box – involving a pursuit of better landscape policies in Ireland and Europe, founding Landscape Alliance Ireland in 1995 and latterly working in Southeast Europe on Council of Europe cultural heritage & diversity projects. He can be contacted at 087-240 7618 & terryjoregan@gmail.com

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08 / INSIGHT

IN PRAISE OF SWALES

LEFT: SECTION THROUGH STANDARD DRY SWALE RIGHT: SECTION THROUGH WET SWALE

Feidhlim Harty explains why we need to see greater use of swales in the Irish landscape

T

he incorporation of swales to mitigate the negative impacts of rainwater runoff in designed schemes is not new. However, their use in Ireland has really only taken off in the last decade. In this feature, I look at how a variety of development and environmental pressures are spurring a huge interest in the design and incorporation of swales in designed landscapes, and how best they can be used.

Have you ever wondered how we got into the habit of burying our streams? That's essentially what happens when we use drainage pipes on new sites. All the water that falls on roof surfaces, roads and footpaths gets

routed directly underground, rather than becoming part of a network of streams within the catchment. Instead of an abundance of plants, insects and other aquatic life revelling in each new shower, newly landed rain rapidly moves into stormwater pipes. Rather than being filtered by plant stems and microorganisms, any debris or contamination in the runoff water is carried along underground to the nearest river.

A swale is typically a narrow, broad channel, often including plants and trees (bioswale) which is used to store and control the rate of rainwater runoff and potential contaminants from a developed area. Swales are one of many landscape interventions that fit under the umbrella of SUDS (Sustained Urban Drainage Systems).

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH PAVING OVER GREEN SPACES? When green fields or wild space is built on, a number of distinct things happen to the drainage patterns in the

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

25

INSIGHT / 08 landscape. Hydrologically, rainfall runoff moves off the landscape faster; a greater amount of rainfall shows up as surface runoff, increasing overall runoff volumes; and the peak flow increases because the rainfall is bunched together in a pulse after a rainfall event. These factors lead to greater risk of downstream flooding, as well as a greater chance of rivers and streams drying up during summer months. Another impact is that silt, debris, petrol and diesel, animal droppings and other spillages can all contribute to the pollution load in the water. The unhindered flow of runoff water through pipes reduces the opportunity for contaminants to be filtered and treated en route to the natural watercourses. Thus the water quality in the catchment suffers.

By using an open drainage network in the form of carefully designed swales, ponds and bioretention areas, you can help to slow the flow of water off the site, increase the water storage in the soil, recharge groundwater, filter contaminants and provide habitat for wildlife.

DIFFERENT SWALE TYPES There are three main swale types used as SUDS components: Standard conveyance swales (grass swale or dry swale), which are open grassed channels sited above groundwater; enhanced dry swales, which have sand and piping added for extra filtration on dirtier sites; and wet swales, which are designed to have standing water in the channel base and are planted with wetland species for additional water filtration.

Here I focus particularly on swales with no extra input of plastic or concrete, so I'm not going to dwell on the enhanced dry swales, other than to mention that they exist. On sites with heavy clay soils, the wet swales are ideal. For well-drained sites, I propose avoiding plastic liner, and thus building dry swales, unless required for filtering runoff from dirty sites or particularly busy areas. Even dry swales may support wetland species over time if the runoff volumes are such that pools of water form and hold for a while after heavy showers. You may wish to add in small earthen dams along the length of the swale to encourage water to pond. It may not support wetland species initially, but Iris pseudacorus,

26

for example, will grow perfectly well in damp soil, and will then thrive if the ponding sections get wetter over time.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Swales are best designed at the earliest stage of a project, along with other site features such as building and access roads; otherwise, the available space quickly becomes cluttered with other features and surface drainage will be pushed underground as a space-saving measure. Another reason to include swales early in the design process is to make best use of the natural site topography, ideally informing the positioning of houses and the open drainage network.

Base widths are typically 0.5m, but can vary depending on the pollution status of the runoff water and the site size and topography. Swale edges typically have a slope of 1:3, but this can be steeper where space is limited, or shallower where the edge is part of the filter system for a yard or road contributing to the swale. Longitudinal gradients are typically no greater than 1:25 unless check dams are added, in which case the gradient can increase to 1:10 without leading to excessive flow velocities.

If you are designing with a specific SUDS objective as part of planning permission, then the overall storage volume is an important consideration.

The CIRIA SUDS Manual[1] provides clear design guidance in this instance.

However if the swales are simply part of a more ecologically sound and wildlifefriendly drainage network, then the exact volume isn't particularly crucial.

In this latter instance, it's still important to ensure that the swale capacity is sufficient to convey surface water away from houses and roads, towards lower areas where periodic flooding is acceptable or even desirable. Ideally, the channel should be about twice the cross sectional area of the equivalent stormwater pipe. In this way, plant growth within the channel won't lead to unacceptable congestion, and will instead act as a part of the overall filtration process.

Swales are potentially low-cost, low-tech, eco-friendly filter systems, but they have their limitations. They are best used to serve relatively small

catchments. For anything much larger than, say, a housing estate, they become rivers after a rainfall event and simply aren't sufficient alone to filter the volumes of water passing through them.

They can still be used to serve the initial stages of a series of SUDS components, but more suitable options may include infiltration basins, ponds or wetlands as the catchment size grows.

Given that swales take up a lot of space compared to piped stormwater sewers, they are generally unsuitable in dense urban settings. Although not always the case, they are generally best used for new-build projects rather than retrofitted into existing developments.

They also have open water during and after rainfall and thus pose a potential drowning hazard, like all open water features. This can be ameliorated by judicious planting with tall emergent species such as Phragmites, Iris and Typha in the base of wet swales or by fencing. A split chestnut paling will have a much lower carbon footprint than a tall metal fence, and look much more natural too.

Swales may not be the ideal option where extensive tree cover is desired.

Excessive shading will reduce grass and wildflower growth, and thus reduce the capacity for attenuation and filtration of runoff. However, planting trees to the north side of a swale can allow both tree cover and good growth of plants within the channel base. Alternatively, for wet swales Luzula sylvatica and Carex pendula may be used as the main wetland species, thus permitting good growth even with limited sunlight.

A point in favour of trees is that they have an excellent capacity to improve infiltration into the soil, so judicious planting in a seasonally flooded bioretention area can be used as part of the overall design to help with water storage and groundwater recharge; particularly on sites with relatively poor drainage.

CONSTRUCTION AND PLANTING If the swale design has been steered by site topography, then there may be minimal excavation required. Remove the topsoil over c.2-3m of channel width, to a depth of c.0.3m below the surrounding ground level. The base of

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

08 / INSIGHT the swale should be c.0.5m wide with gently sloping sides.

Check dams of stone or compacted earth can be added at intervals if needed. Allow a slight drop on the swale side of any road drains, to minimise the potential for clogging with plants and silt.

The base and sides of dry swales can be seeded with grass or a wildflower mix. Lawn turf may also be used where the swale will be put into immediate use, but it is less costly to simply rake and seed the area at the appropriate time of year.

Wildflower seeding may be carried out in the autumn, for spring germination, but repeat in the spring if winter rain has washed the area through.

The base of wet swales can be planted with mature bare rooted wetland species such as Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, Sparganium erectum, Mentha aquatica, Veronica beccabunga or other similar natives. It is often beneficial to add some mud from a nearby watercourse to introduce seeds and aquatic fauna at an early stage. This is particularly useful where earthen dams are used at intervals to create permanent or semi-permanent pools in which water beetles and other insects can thrive.

ONGOING MAINTENANCE Unlike with piped systems, issues will become apparent sooner rather than later. Maintenance typically includes cutting the grass in dry swales to a set design height, but I prefer to include a mix of wildflowers, or to include clover in with the grass seed to feed pollinators, so leaving this grow long has advantages for wildlife. A single cut of hay in September will keep briars in check and encourage new fresh growth of grass in the spring. Cut to a height of not less than 100mm to ensure that there is sufficient ground cover during the wet winter months for water filtration.

Grass cutting in wet swales isn't necessary, but the drier parts may benefit from an annual cut of hay. Bringing heavy mowing machines into moist ground is neither easy nor necessary. Wetter areas can simply be let grow as they wish. Typha and Iris will have attractive foliage over the winter and provide cover for wildlife at a time when cover is scarce.

Any pipes under roads or to existing land drains should be checked regularly and cleared of accumulated leaf litter, twigs or other debris if needed. Designing a slightly deeper area close to outlets to help keep piped exits clearer of tall vegetation; or alternatively have an area of dry shallower ground that can be mown annually. Litter should be picked up from the swales as it appears. Otherwise, the area can look ramshackle and unkempt and attract more litter.

TO CLOSE Finally, remember that this isn't rocket science. Water will follow its own way downhill. If you can simply encourage it in a way that offers habitat, filtration and sufficient containment to avoid causing a nuisance or hazard, then you'll be contributing to the rewilding of our landscapes and waterways. There are lots of ways to avoid plastic and concrete, reduce your carbon footprint and help wildlife thrive rather than hinder it.

Open drainage is just one of many solutions, and well worth incorporating into your next design project.

SUDS COMPONENTS USED FOR STORMWATER CONTROL AND/OR FILTRATION. FOR CLEAN SITES SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL AREAS, A SINGLE COMPONENT MAY BE APPROPRIATE; FOR MORE CONTAMINATED SITES MORE COMPONENTS IN SERIES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE RECEIVING CATCHMENT IS PROTECTED. ● Source control techniques such as green roofs,

soakaways, water butts, rainwater harvesting systems. ● Pre-treatment systems such as oil interceptors and sediment traps. ● Filter strips - wide grassed or thickly planted buffer zones adjacent to impervious surfaces for treatment of runoff water. ● Filter trenches and infiltration trenches - gravel filled

trenches which treat runoff water from path edges or paved areas. ● Swales - wide grassed channels which permit infiltration as well as transporting runoff water and/or providing storage. ● Bioretention areas - shallow planted areas that

temporarily store stormwater runoff and allow it to percolate into the ground. ● Pervious paving - allows water to flow into a gravel substrate beneath the paved surface where it is stored for percolation, reuse or for filtration through the substrate to the receiving water or the next stage of the SUDS. ● Geocellular systems - performed plastic media which can be used to store runoff water below ground beneath paved areas. ● Sand filters - used where elevated pollution loads are

anticipated, or were receiving water sensitivity is high. ● Detention basins - designed for water quality

improvement as well as storage of runoff in storm events. They are typically dry basins, but built to facilitate flooding to a considerable depth as needed for storage purposes, then releasing water to the receiving environment or the next stage of the SUDS system. ● Infiltration basins - function in a similar manner to detention basins, but are designed specifically to facilitate infiltration of all flows into the ground. ● Ponds - a popular SUDS component, designed to

maintain a sufficient depth of water, as well as providing runoff water storage and filtration. ● Stormwater wetlands - relatively shallow wetland

areas that are designed to both store and filter the water volume generated during a storm event.

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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INSIGHT / 08 SWALES IN PERMACULTURE DESIGN The term swales is also used in permaculture design to describe ditches/channels created along the contour. While these look similar to drainage swales they differ in that their purpose is to catch and contain water flowing off the catchment, specifically to reintroduce it into the ground. Such permaculture swales offer many benefits in arid climates insofar as they can greatly enhance groundwater recharge by holding the large volumes of water from sudden, heavy rainfall and allowing this to seep gradually into the soil. There are many examples of swales being used as a first step in a successional design process to re-green deserts – even to the point of getting streams and springs flowing again after decades of being dry through overgrazing and less careful land management.

In the Irish context, FÉIDHLIM HARTY we rarely seek to hold is an environmental consultant, onto the water that director of FH Wetland Systems falls from the skies. That said, recent years have clearly and author of two books on shown that our farms can suffer from climate breakdown, natural sewage treatment through both flooding and droughts. There is a solid case systems. His new book, to be made for permaculture swales, contour hedgerow Towards Zero Waste, was and woodland planting, composting to increase soil humus published this autumn. and a myriad of other conservation agriculture measures See www.wetlandsystems.ie to improve our management of water in the landscape and for details. impact this has on the resilience of Irish farming. ✽ REFERENCES [1] WOODS-BALLARD B, KELLAGHER R, MARTIN P, JEFFRIES C, BRAY R, SHAFFER P (2007) THE SUDS MANUAL. CIRIA, LONDON.

+1-631-725-0005 www.summerhilllandscapes.com 6 Shaw Road, Sag Harbour, New York

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08 / INSIGHT

THE

THERAPEUTIC USE OF HORTICULTURE IN IRELAND:

Rachel Freeman, lecturer in horticulture at Technological University Dublin, reviews the recent inaugural symposium on the use, benefits and future development of social and therapeutic horticulture in Ireland

Symposium Report

T

©JULIANE LIEBERMANN O RKU3AQNSW

he inaugural symposium of the Irish Social, Community & Therapeutic Horticulture (SCTH) community was held on Friday 6th of September in Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Blanchardstown. The daylong symposium’s theme was ‘Therapeutic Horticulture: Research, Practice and The Future’ and it began with an opening address from Campus Principal, Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan.

In his opening address, Dr O’Callaghan acknowledged the value of therapeutic horticulture, and the breadth of disciplines among those present. He remarked that ‘it is here in this space [Therapeutic Horticulture], in this intersect of disciplines, that the magic happens’.

The speakers on the day included internationally renowned researcher, author and (retired) professor, specialising in Social & Therapeutic Horticulture, Dr Joe Sempik, lecturer and post-doctoral researcher on the NEAR Health

HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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INSIGHT / 08 project from NUIG, Dr Caitriona Carlin, and school of Business lecturer and researcher in Social Return On Investment from Technological University Dublin, Dr Francis McGeough. An open session was led by SCTH member, Birgitta Mundy with a selection of short presentations from Dee Sewell (Greenside Up), Rachel Gerrard-Shouldice (the National Rehabilitation Hospital Dun Laoghaire), Patrick Howlett (Festina Lente), Ciarnad Ryan (TU Dublin Horticulture Department), Brendan Redmond (Assistant Parks Superintendent South Dublin County Council), Graham Bradley (Horticulture Junior Gardeners Programme), Gareth Lovett (Horticulturist Camphill Community Dunshane, Co Kildare), and Robbie Breadon (Psychotherapist, Common Ground, Co Fermanagh).

SO WHY A THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE SYMPOSIUM NOW? There has been a gradual rise to prominence of therapeutic horticulture practice in Ireland. To some, this might seem a new departure for horticulture, yet for the many practitioners that are part of this niche sector, it is nothing new. They have been using nature and the outdoors for therapeutic benefit for decades and the evidence of their work was visible at the Symposium. However, the numbers present and breadth of professions using horticultural activities and interventions, which bring therapeutic benefit, was immense; certainly evidence of a horticultural practice coming to the fore.

However, I see that some people remain completely detached from the natural world. At the heart of this detachment is a rise in disconnection from nature; for example, a lack of understanding of or care for where our food comes from and how its produced, and the directly related resultant issues of poorer overall health and wellbeing. Horticultural therapy is not specifically focused on addressing the environmental crisis but the growing volume of evidence showing the restorative benefits of connecting with nature demonstrate how inconnected our own healing is with the healing of the planet. If we benefit from connecting with nature, and in turn, nature benefits from our understanding of its value.

IMAGINING THE PRACTICE For those who stop to imagine the practice of therapeutic horticulture, it is often visions of horticulturists based in clinical/hospital settings, with patients sowing seed or tending to pots come to mind. This image isn’t wrong, it is at the core of, and perhaps arguably the most valuable work in the sector, yet the practice of therapeutic horticulture is much broader.

The symposium highlighted its many facets and the interdisciplinary nature of the practice of therapeutic horticulture stretching across a range of professions including that of horticulture. Attendees came from a wide array of workplace settings: teaching, community and social care sector, the health sector (incl. nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy), social work, psychology, psychotherapy, ecotherapy, early childhood care and education sectors, forest school settings, and local authority parks departments.

The rise to prominence of therapeutic horticulture in Ireland and its cross disciplinary nature makes for an intriguing study and the journey has only just begun.

In recent years I have had the pleasure of studying in this

30

area, and in doing so, meeting and corresponding with people from across Ireland working in this sector. I found much of the conversation was around the fantastic work that is being carried out, yet I heard of the many challenges that prevail.

At the core of conversations was the lack of visibility for this beneficial, valuable and necessary work which is taking place throughout the island of Ireland. Beyond visibility, those involved felt that there were few peer networking events and little provision for upskilling and/or third level educational opportunities. Many people considered these as problematic to advancing practice.

I began to examine the issues related to me and spoke to among others, Caitriona Kelly Therapeutic Horticulturist at GIY, who has been working in this area for some time striving to support practitioners, offering upskilling and networking opportunities through the work of GIY in the area. We gathered our therapeutic practitioner contacts together and the loose threads of an organisation began to form when we issued a ‘clarion cry’ to practitioners working in the sector. We asked them to join together in a conversation on Social and Therapeutic Horticulture practice in Ireland.

So, perhaps enticed by the tea and scones on offer, a group came together at TU Dublin Blanchardstown campus for a late February meeting. We were pleasantly surprised when twenty or so people arrived, with seven joining online.

It was from this initial meeting that the idea of a networking organization, website and symposium arose.

At the meeting, the issues previously mentioned were teased out, and suggestions made to network and support practitioners.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? In addition, an important decision was taken at the first meeting; it was clear from those practitioners present that the narrow acronym of Social & Therapeutic Horticulture as a name or definition, didn’t represent the breadth of work in the sector. It was evident that those using horticulture therapeutically, especially those working in community settings, felt the need to encompass ‘Community’. Hence, the acronym SCTH was born; Social, Community and Therapeutic Horticulture which includes community at the core of the practice.

A core group of those in attendance volunteered for further work and we began to scope out the goals from the initial meeting; organize the network, hold a symposium and develop and/or provide educational opportunities.

The SCTH Ireland website followed shortly thereafter, providing for online networking and visibility for the sector (www.SCTHIreland.com is currently under construction).

Thereafter plans began for a symposium to offer a networking and educational event to practitioners. This is how it all began.

THE DAY The symposium was hosted by TU Dublin with support from Horticulture Connected and organising committee members were both individual practitioners from private practice and representatives from a range of organisations: TU Dublin Horticulture, GIY, Cork Autism, Teagasc Kildalton, Festina Lente, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Airfield Trust, Bradleys

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

08 / INSIGHT Horticulture (Junior gardeners programme) and Greenside Up. The event was sold out well in advance and had a waiting list in double figures; we never imagined it would attract such numbers. A group of more than 70 people came from across Ireland and in a warm, friendly and collegial community gathering, and following Dr O’Callaghan's opening address, the presentations began with Dr Joe Sempik’s keynote address.

Dr. Sempik began with the history of the therapeutic use of horticulture and gave voice to the evidence of its use dating back to the time of the monasteries and early psychiatric institutions. Dr Sempik’s professional, yet fun and engaging style, was strong on theoretical content.

Throughout his presentation, Dr Sempik noted that the evidence underpinning the use of horticulture as a therapeutic intervention/activity is clear, that when used in a guided facilitated setting, it has a specific and measurable benefit. One example he presented was research carried out at Blossoms of Larne Lough in Northern Ireland where therapeutic horticulture is used to benefit those suffering from PTSD. Dr. Sempik's findings demonstrated a clear measurable benefit to the participants of that programme and he urged those present to evaluate practice yet not looking to evaluate the obvious, or if evaluations had previously been conducted in the specific area before. However, he did strongly encourage everyone to consider research.

Second speaker on the day was. Dr. Mc Geough who focused on social return on investment (SROI) as a mechanism to place a monetary valuation on the benefit/ value an urban park brings to a neighborhood. Using the example of Edinburgh’s parks, Dr. McGeough took attendees through the process of how they might go about conducting an SROI calculation to place a monetary value on therapeutic activities in their horticultural practice.

In the third session of the morning, Dr Carlin presented remotely on the NEAR Health project (Nature and Environment can Attain and Restore health) which centres on nature connectedness, looking at ecosystem benefits to health, and the presentation focused on how the public can be engaged in nature-based activities and measuring the benefits. Following lunch, the focus shifted to practitioners and presented lots of opportunity to network and share practice through the informal poster and networking session.

The first of the afternoon sessions was hosted by the SCTH committee and led by member Birgitta Mundy.

We had a therapeutic start with Birgitta; beginning with a short guided meditation, which focused and cleared minds for the upcoming session. Birgitta then opened with an eloquent, ecological and nature connected scenesetting prose. This provided attendees with the emphasis and space to discuss and contribute their wishes for their organization, SCTH Ireland.

At the heart of the discussion were the three key messages

given in February, albeit from a different audience (support, networking, and education) yet with a strong note from some practitioners regarding professionalisation for practitioners.

Many of the attendees at the session were concerned about the lack of recognition and acknowledgement of STH/SCTH as a professional discipline providing therapeutic benefit and the consequences that arise from that, in particular, remuneration which rightly so, is much of what motivated the professionalisation discussion.

The final hour of the day consisted of a series of short practitioner presentations. Pechakucha is a style of fast-paced visual presentations of six minutes 20 seconds in length, with the presenter providing the narrative story for images presented usually via powerpoint. The variety of activities was immense, reminding us once again of the sheer breadth of Therapeutic use of Horticulture. The pace kept everyone on their toes until four-thirty, when the symposium concluded.

The conclusion focused on the current global environmental crisis, which ran as a constant undercurrent to discussions throughout the day. It was on that note the day ended, with practitioners encouraged and restored, speaking of their intent to return to their respective places to impact those in their sphere of influence toward wellbeing with environmental care through the medium of therapeutic practice.

WHERE TO FROM HERE? Research evidence is demonstrating that connection to nature is beneficial, that exercise taken in green and blue space is providing additional benefit, that time spent in the outdoors is vital all but in particular for holistic child development, that land is needed for food production, trees for clear air, wild spaces for biodiversity, areas for sport and recreation. It demonstrates that therapeutic horticulture benefits those with additional needs and/or challenges to their mental and physical health. However, we must provide for all of this in tandem with nature. We must design for it with the care of the environment uppermost in minds particularly those of us that are working as professional horticulturists e.g. producing food or designing and managing landscapes. These are among the things that will shape horticulture into the future, and the future of the environment depends how we go about it.

WHAT’S IN THIS FOR THE HORTICULTURE SECTOR? This is an important area of research for those interested, yet on another level, it is equally important for the sector to become involved in and support. I believe that therapeutic horticulture has benefits for mainstream industry, it is a whole new customer base and the opportunities are only just starting to emerge. The rise in both mental and physical health issues offer opportunities for both industry and individual horticulturists to provide therapeutic solutions to help alleviate these issues. There are business opportunities; consider the model shown at the symposium of Blossoms at Larne lough, who have provided a therapeutic horticulture programme from within their landscaped gardens with a

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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INSIGHT / 08 horticulturist and therapist working together. The need for us all to engage with nature and the outdoors for health benefit has never been clearer; perhaps horticultural businesses could take a look at the social farming model for inspiration?

As horticulturists, how we go about engagement in this sector that is the question and was among the many conversations had by attendees at the after-lunch networking and research poster session. There wasn’t a clear conclusion to this discussion however, two points emerged; firstly, we can’t do it alone, we need the expertise of others and they of us, secondly we need to keep the environment foremost in our minds in the decisions and choices we make, and thirdly, horticulturists in this sector are in a new era for horticulture, a unique professional, multidisciplinary space and practitioners gave those of us in education a signal that new course provision is needed for this new era.

For the SCTH Ireland organisation there is a job of work ahead, and the question of what next and where to from here? If this piqued your interest, here’s another clarion cry – join us, let’s

have a conversation (perhaps with tea and scones) and make it happen together. Note: None of this was possible without the hard work and support of the SCTH committee and presenters – Thank you, everyone. ✽

PRACTITIONER PRESENTERS Brendan Redmond Assist. Parks Superintendent South Dublin Co Co, Gareth Lovett Therapeutic Horticulturist Camphill Community Dunshane, Co Kildare, Robbie Breadon, Psychotherapist, Common Ground Co. Fermanagh. Patrick Howlett Festina Lente, Rachael Gerrard – Shouldice NRH, Ciarnad Ryan TU Dublin Horticulture Dept., Graham Bradley, Bradleys Horticulture and Junior Gardeners Programme Last but not least, a final word of thanks to Horticulture Connected - Joseph and Tanya Blair who are full of sage advice and believed this was possible even when I doubted it myself.

RACHEL FREEMAN - Lecturer

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

in Horticulture. Technological University Dublin (TUD) Blanchardstown Campus

Caitriona Kelly, Dee Sewell, Ciarnad Ryan, Graham Bradley, Birgitta M Mundy, Siobhan Nolan, Aislinn Barrett, Emma Hutchinson, Laura Cassin, Anne Gleeson, Patrick Howlett, Joyce Fitzpatrick, Dr. Jill Carey, Yvonne Grace, Rachael Gerrard – Shouldice.

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HOW GREEN IS

YOUR BUSINESS?

John Murphy, respected nurseryman and owner of Annaveigh Plants, reflects on his business practices in light of growing climate change concerns

H

aving sat watching the Climate Change Strike on the news last week and being impressed by the numbers turning out here in Ireland and all over the world, I began to contemplate how green we really are. I have always been under the illusion that growing 100 acres of trees offsets the non-green elements of my business, but does it really?

Looking at a few facts and figures, my nursery offsets the carbon emissions of 6.1 return flights from Dublin to Schiphol, Amsterdam every year. A typical return trip from Dublin to Tipperary with an HGV emits approximately 250kg of Co2. Looking at these figures, our poor 100 acres of trees would have to work hard just to cover our transport and that excludes all the machinery we operate on the nursery.

Climate change has certainly had an impact on nurseries in Europe and this was clear to see in the last five years. Freezing temperatures, flooding and shoring temperatures have been a recent feature for Dutch and German producers. Twenty years ago, we would never have contemplated irrigating the trees on the nursery, but now we lay irrigation at the time of planting. Rainfall in Ireland is predicted to fall by 5-15% and there is the unpredictability of extreme weather events, which it is suggested will increase in frequency. It has been very noticeable that certain tree varieties have performed better in the changing climate, Liquidamber and Acer rubrum varieties now thrive in Tipperary, while in the past they struggled. But look around and you will see old Fagus trees in trouble this season due to last year’s drought and this year's soil moisture deficits of up to 40mm.

As a member of the green industry, I am sure you comfort yourself with the belief that: ‘I am planting enough trees and shrubs to offset my carbon footprint’. But I think if you analyse your business you will discover that you are not as green as you thought.

A quick look at ourselves here in Annaveigh shows we are dispatching a lot of non-recyclable plastic yearly. In the form of pots, bags and plastic wrap. Demand has dictated that most wholesale Irish nurseries import plants from Europe, and we are no different. Once you go down this path you must include container shipping, road haulage and the associated unloading and loading operations and adding all the machinery operated on the nursery, and it doesn’t paint a good picture.

While altogether combating Climate Change seems impossible for a small business, there are many changes we can implement immediately. It may not be as dramatic as replacing container ships with electric ships but let’s consider a few options.

Immediately we should look at getting rid of all single-use plastic products. Last Christmas we bought all employees Chilly Bottles and asked staff to stop using single-use water bottles. Another change we implement is the investment in electric alternatives to the traditionally used petrol-powered handheld machinery. Small beginnings.

At present we are looking at ways of replacing the thousands of black plastic bags used on bare-root plants, to date we have not found a suitable replacement. Maybe nurseries who bag their bare-root plants should be asking their customers if this extra packaging is really necessary.

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INSIGHT / 08

Another area we are actively pursuing is the use of electric/ hybrid vehicles. In 2020 we intend to replace one of our diesel platforms with a completely electric platform from Damcon. Having recently been at a nursery machine show in Germany, I was disappointed at the level of advances in the area of electric machinery. However, we are choosing to focus on areas where options are available. For example, beginning to replace our fleet of diesel vans with electric hybrids.

Two years ago, when we took a bulk delivery of fertiliser for the year, I could not get over the volume when it was all in one place. Fertiliser production is a huge contributor to Co2. Conveniently this realisation coincided with a Teagasc conference featuring a section on fertigation. This method delivers fertiliser where and when the plant needs it, significantly reducing the waste of granular fertiliser. This season we ran our first tests using this method and as a result, all our 2020 planting will use fertigation from the start.

It is now recognised that having bare soil contributes to higher Co2 emissions and all open field nurseries should be sowing catch crops where possible. Once the trees have been lifted we sow crops such as marigolds, Phacelia, wildflower and leafy Turnip. This catches the nitrates leftover from the tree production and the carbon the crop stores is incorporated into the soil as organic matter.

Working in a relatively small market Irish growers can never grow 100% of the plants demanded. If I was to try and grow every tree we are asked for in the multiple of sizes we would have half of Tipperary under trees and we would be broke. Many Irish nurseries are therefore plant importers and once shipping is added to the equation, carbon footprint calculations go out the window. We started looking at this about three years ago and approached a number of Irish nurseries about growing for us on contract. While some were reluctant we have managed to set up three contracts with different nurseries. We calculate that this will reduce our imports by approximately 40% in 2020 and we hope to add to this by 2021. Apart from reducing the carbon miles on the plants, it also means we are supplying plants grown in Ireland with the associated economic benefits.

Unfortunately, many of the changes that need to be made in our industry will not happen unless the situation is forced upon us, something that is obvious in the area of chemical weed control. At the recent Nursery Technique Show in Germany, it was evident how chemical withdrawal has pushed the area of mechanical weed control to the forefront.

Our weed control regime has always been based on contact and residual herbicides. As of this season, EU regulation has banned the basis of our entire weed control program, thus forcing us into the purchase of a mechanical finger weeder.

On the same trip, I was staying in the suburbs of Hamburg where chemical weed control by anybody, including landscape contractors and local authorities is completely banned. The result was some areas looked like a wilderness, something we may have to get used too (see photo one).

Other areas, like the local shopping centre, was pristinely

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PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. SOME OF THE DAMAGE FROM STORM OPHELIA 2. A CHEMICAL-FREE LANDSCAPE IN HAMBURG 3: SPECIAL BIOFUMIGATION MIX WE USE AS A CATCH CROP

maintained. This was achieved by planting with ground cover nursery stock (not perennials) that suppressed the weeds and through the use of the many mechanical machines now available to keep kerbs and paving free from weeds. It was another clear example of how horticulture can adapt when regulation forces it to do so.

On a broader scale, we need to look at several areas. The plastic pot issue, it doesn’t matter if they are recyclable or not as it is clear to see that a recyclable product is as likely to end up in the sea as it is in a recycling centre and our industry uses millions of plastic pots each year. I believe that coloured pots are recyclable and if this is the case, we should be switching over immediately from black. Also just released are Taupe plastic pots, these are carbon black free polypropylene that can be recognised by near-infrared in recycling centres, not like black pots. But for this to work we all need to buy into it, no point in a landscaper taking deliveries from Taupe and black pot using nurseries and ending up with a mixed upload of pots. Generally, the taupe pot (and any ‘accredited’ non-carbon black pigment pot) is around 25%-30% more expensive to buy. However, this translates into an average of about 1.5%-2% more on the end-user price for each plant. As an industry, we need to encourage the use of Taupe pots or similar by persuading Local Authorities and Landscape Architects to add their use to any public or private tender.

So to conclude, while thinking about writing this piece I spent a day examining everything I came in contact with on the nursery. If it involved plastics or Co2 emissions I counted it and came up with 26 incidents, 12 of these could be addressed immediately with a little investment. One example is to change our plastic tying material to an organic-based tie. We have started experimenting in the last 2 weeks and this could replace at least 1000 km of plastic.

I would suggest that we all take some time out to look at our business with Climate Change in mind and not let down the millions of young people protesting last week. ✽

JOHN MURPHY - owner and operator of Annaveigh Plants is one of Ireland’s most experienced and respected nurserymen.

For more information visit www.annaveigh.com

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INTERVIEW / 10

MAKING THE PHOENIX

BARRY LUPTON INTERVIEWS GARY GRAHAM

Bloom

It’s hard to believe that Bloom in the Park has been running successfully for 13 years. Time has flown

T

he event sits deservedly at the centre of Ireland’s horticultural calendar and has contributed greatly to the development of gardening, design and all things plants in Ireland. While it’s success is vital to the continued evolution of Irish horticulture, the show is not without its critics. With the completion of the Bloom strategy, I was keen to speak to the show’s originator, Gary Graham about how the show got started, developed and what the plans are for the future. I was also keen to put some of the critics questions to him too.

CAN YOU ARTICULATE HOW THE ORIGINAL IDEA FOR BLOOM DEVELOPED FROM OUTLINE CONCEPT TO THAT FIRST SHOW IN 2007?

During my time working in the IFA and Bord Glas I was looking to the UK and further afield for ideas to adapt for Ireland, ideas that would increase consumer engagement and support the development of the Irish horticulture sector. Countries with bigger, more developed markets such as the UK have many great organisations like the RHS with well-resourced and welltested initiatives. Bloom’s origination was a simple case of not

36

wanting to reinvent a working wheel. Our objective was to create a version of Chelsea/Hampton Court that was suitable for the smaller Irish horticulture industry and for Bord Bia which has a wide and important remit including food and drink.

After visits over many years to shows like the Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Palace, Chaumont sur Loire and Westonbirt I had an opportunity to work with Irish event organisers on shows like Garden Heaven. It was clear that a properly-resourced show with a commitment to horticulture and long term growth rather than short term profit could succeed. From my time working in the landscaping sector in the 90s I was confident that we had the talent in Ireland to

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

10 / INTERVIEW make world-class show gardens and it was clear that these gardens could be the centrepiece in a new show.

We included the idea for a garden show in the last Bord Glas five year development plan just before the organisation was amalgamated with Bord Bia in 2004. At the end of 2005, I presented a proposal to Bord Bia management for a new Bord Bia gardening show with a 2007 launch date.

The original proposal entailed financial support for three to five years by which time we forecasted that the show would be self-financing. The original Bloom business model relied heavily upon large sponsors and significant income from ticket sales. It was before the demise of the Celtic Tiger and before we agreed to admit 20,000 children free of charge.

The journey from concept to the first show required multiple disciplines and skillsets. Great ideas don't stay on the drawing board without people with passion and skills.

Thankfully, many individuals and organisations recognised the opportunity for the Irish horticulture sector to present a uniquely Irish show that could rival the highest international events. Industry representatives and champions like grower Kieran Dunne and retailer Rachel Doyle got behind Bloom and organisations like the GLDA, ALCI, IFA and the RHSI and many colleges and institutions came on board.

My colleague Carol Marks dedicated herself to Bloom’s success, giving 100% of her energy during the planning of the first Bloom. RHS gold medal winner Orla Woods was responsible for creating the Floral Pavilion. The Phoenix Park is key to Bloom’s success and the OPW parks team, led by John McCullen and then Margaret Gormley got behind us. Andrew Wilson was key to aligning the show garden judging standards with the RHS. Event management experts like Garret Buckley, Alan Murphy, John Hick and Louise McLoughlin brought their many years of knowledge to bear on the creation of the physical infrastructure and management of ticketing, sales of exhibition space and sponsorship management.

WHAT WERE THE KEY CHALLENGES YOU HAD TO OVERCOME IN THOSE EARLY YEARS? Other than the weather which was particularly nasty in our first year, the economic recession has been our biggest challenge. The associated loss of sponsors and the pressure on ticket prices was overcome by increasing and extending the commitment to support Bloom from within Bord Bia. The funding shortage also encouraged garden designers, contractors and their suppliers to pool resources and find creative ways to fund gardens through product placement, borrowed materials and greater investment of sweat equity.

Many contractors and suppliers across the show worked with us to keep Bloom as affordable as possible to visitors and as worthwhile as possible for exhibitors.

HOW DO THOSE EARLY CHALLENGES COMPARE TO THE ONES YOU NOW FACE? Today’s challenges are mostly centred on the management of high visitor numbers, keeping visitors safe and comfortable and well-fed. We also have to work harder to keep Bloom fresh and relevant, finding the balance between high-end horticulture and “festival” content that draws in non-

gardeners and non-foodies. There are many more events around the country and as consumers, we are bombarded with information making it more difficult to maintain Bloom’s profile. In this competitive communication environment TV coverage and social media activity is much more important.

Creating the content for TV and digital media is another challenge and adds another layer of complexity for the show’s management.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE LAST 13 YEARS? Memorable moments include the reaction from Andrew Wilson when he arrived at the first show in 2007 and said, “well Mr Graham, it appears that you have a show”. Others include my family meeting the President for the first time, the long excited queues outside the gate and the sun shining after a few rainy days in the Park. Many of my best memories involve show gardens and designers, sharing in the relief and joy when medals are finally awarded. On occasion, designers are crushed and these memories stay with me too. It reminds me of the bravery required to compete at Bloom.

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS THE SHOW BEEN IN TERMS OF MEETING THE ORIGINAL STRATEGY TARGETS? Bloom does what it was designed to do i.e. make a lot of noise about gardens and plants and horticulture. It puts gardening on the front page and on the main evening news on TV. We have metrics that track how Bloom impacts on circa €100M of spend across the industry every year. Bloom put gardening back on TV and created an Irish platform for many great designers (too many to mention) and for great communicators like Fiann O’Nuallain.

WHAT PRIMARY TARGETS HAVE EMERGED FROM THE RECENT STRATEGY REVIEW? The review clearly identified that we need to identify and nurture a younger more diverse audience and that we need to broaden the reach from enthusiastic gardeners to citizens who want to live a more sustainable nature-friendly lifestyle. This is how we will create the growers of the future but we need to recognise that they may be growing in different places indoors, at work, in communities, on balconies, etc. Bloom’s role will be twofold, the show itself will become more sustainable and the content will incorporate more immersive learning opportunities linked to the pivotal role that plants will play as we tackle biodiversity loss and climate change in the decades ahead.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACTS THE EVENT HAS HAD ON THE WIDER HORTICULTURE SECTOR? Bloom at its core is a communication vehicle, a highly immersive multi-sensory way of stimulating interest around plants and gardening. Putting gardening on the front page of newspapers and on the main evening news and the creation of dedicated TV programmes around Bloom combine to create a very powerful promotional campaign. Each year we measure how this drives sales of plants and increased gardening activity. On an annual basis we can measure circa €100M of spend linked to Bloom. We are also raising awareness around

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INTERVIEW / 10 the importance of garden design and providing a shop window for construction standards but most importantly we are exciting visitors and TV viewers and inspiring them to do more amateur gardening or spend more with professionals.

BLOOM VERY QUICKLY GREW FROM A GARDEN AND PLANT-FOCUSED EVENT TO A HORTICULTURE AND FOOD EVENT. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICS OF THIS MOVE? Bloom is organised and underwritten by Bord Bia and I make no apology for the additional focus on food and drink at Bloom. Our remit is broader than horticulture and by using Bloom to celebrate food and drink it broadens Bloom’s appeal to a wider audience. Our ambition is to entice more non-gardeners into gardening. The show gardens and plant displays are the main attraction and even the non-gardening visitors attending for a day out are inspired to do some more gardening or engage a garden designer. Other gardening shows treat food as “catering” whereas we celebrate food and make it part of the Bloom experience.

YOU’VE GOT TO WORK WITH ALMOST ALL OF IRELAND’S GARDEN DESIGNERS OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOP-CLASS SHOW GARDENS? New ideas or more likely clever reinterpretation of great ideas, some level of immediate impact swiftly followed by layers of interest to hold the spell and complete a story. Quality materials, beautifully used and plants that ground the illusion of a show garden with nature. Most great gardens have an atmosphere or mood that speaks to you e.g. “welcome, come in and sit, you will feel safe and whole and connected”.

CONVERSELY TO THE LAST QUESTION, WHY SOME DESIGNERS FAIL TO MAKE THE GRADE? Thankfully, we have great garden designers in this country and more importantly, we have designers who understand the difference between a show garden and a real garden.

Failures are usually a result of a mismatch between overlyambitious schemes and a lack of experience, knowledge or resources. Novices often want to include “the kitchen sink” and occasionally a veteran can become complacent. When designers stray into poetry during the application process and then find that the poem does not translate to a readable garden they can come a cropper.

All that said, medals are important but they are not the only measurement of success at Bloom. A garden that does not perform well on medals may have a strong appeal to the public or it may bring a strong social or environmental message that is not in any way diminished or strengthened by the medal.

YOU HAVE USED THE SAME, EXPERIENCED PANEL OF PROFESSIONALS FOR JUDGING AND THE ADVISORY GROUP SINCE THE BEGINNING. WHILE THIS OBVIOUSLY CONFERS CONSISTENCY, THERE ARE ANNUAL CALLS FOR SOME CHANGING OF THE GUARD. ARE THEIR PLANS FOR CHANGE? IF NOT, WHY NOT? There have been some changes and additions over the years

38

but mostly on the floral and nursery panels rather than show gardens. We are open to suggestions on judging but there won’t be change for change's sake. The consistent application of the agreed criteria is what really counts and consistency is better achieved by a stable reliable panel. I have had the opportunity to work with and observe judging panels across the world from here to New Zealand and I have not found a better approach. I am also mindful that change is inevitable and we will lose judges over time. To this end, it would be great to hear suggestions on who could join the panel as a guest or shadow judge with a view to taking over as a full member of the panel in the future.

THE REALITY SHOW, SUPERGARDEN HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT PART OF BLOOM PROMOTION, BUT IT IS A SOURCE OF CONTINUED CRITICISM FROM THE DESIGN COMMUNITY. AMONG THE CRITICISMS ARE THAT IT UNDERMINES PROFESSIONALISM AND DESIGN EDUCATION, IS UNREALISTIC IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED AND HOW MUCH GARDENS COST, AND PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS, IT TELLS THE WIDER PUBLIC THAT ANY AUL EEJIT CAN BE A DESIGNER. BEYOND RATINGS AND PROMOTION, WHY ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED WITH IT? Yes I understand why professionals have criticised SG in the past and I have always shared these criticisms with the TV show producers. Thankfully, the show has evolved and most participants in the show are well trained and many of them have experience of garden construction. It is also important to note that the budgets have also increased and with access to free product and proper planting budgets it has become much clearer that gardens cannot be created without skills and resources.

I am very happy to be involved as we need to make gardening and garden design accessible and SG draws nongardeners into a conversation about gardens. It also creates a powerful link with Bloom and when these TV viewers come to Bloom the conversation develops further.

THE PROFILE OF DESIGNERS EXHIBITING AT BLOOM HAS SHIFTED FROM PRIMARILY PROFESSIONAL, COMMERCIALLY FOCUSED DESIGNERS TO A MORE ECLECTIC MIX OF ORGANISATIONS, SEMI-STATE BODIES, STUDENTS AND HOBBYISTS. WHY IS THIS? When we are constantly bombarded with messaging from traditional media and all the new social and digital media platforms it is hard to get and hold a person’s attention.

Organisations and individuals, both commercial and not-forprofit, are looking for immersive and emotionally engaging experiences like Bloom as a way of connecting with citizens at a deeper level. That said, every garden should be designled with a pivotal role for the designer in every scheme. The eclectic list of exhibitors should provide these designers with more diverse material for more diverse design briefs.

FOLLOWING FROM THE LAST QUESTION, IS THERE

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10 / INTERVIEW ANYTHING THAT CAN OR SHOULD BE DONE TO CHANGE THE PROFILE? Bloom needs to be diverse, flexible and open to change. This will ensure that it stays relevant. So long as we keep plants and horticulture at the centre of the show there will always be a need for commercially-focused designers and contractors.

This, in turn, maintains the need for growers and horticulturists and retailers and other service providers who are associated with gardens, landscapes and green infrastructure.

FOREIGN DESIGNERS ARE NOTABLE IN THEIR ABSENCE AT BLOOM. WHY IS THIS? We have had some great “foreign” gardens over the years but it would be great to have more foreign designers and to have them every year. This is something that can be developed in the future now that we have clearly established that we have great designers in Ireland. Other new “international” shows took a different approach relying upon “foreign” designers to create shows designed to attract tourists. Our focus on home-grown talent has done more to promote gardening and garden design to Irish homeowners in order to boost the horticulture sector.

GARDENS ARE A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE MESSAGES WITH THE PUBLIC, BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I FEEL TOO MANY GARDENS ARE BEING COMPROMISED TO SATISFY SPONSOR NEEDS. I RECALL A SOLUS GARDEN WITH A HUGE LIGHT BULB IN THE CENTRE. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS? Over the years, some gardens strayed over the line into trade

stands but interestingly, many of them were well received by the judges and many were massive hits with children e.g. the Mr Tayto Garden of 2014. Like most good things in life, balance is required and in the context of 330 gardens over 13 years the balance is very much on the side of non-commercial gardens.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE WIDER HORTICULTURE COMMUNITY CAN BETTER EXPLOIT THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF BLOOM? Bloom is designed to create a lot of positive noise around gardens and gardening but currently, that noise is condensed into a couple of weeks around the June Bank Holiday weekend and the six weeks that Super Garden in aired. There is an opportunity to stretch Bloom’s impact across the year by piggybacking on it and running initiatives and promotions that start and/or culminate at Bloom. It is one of the very few well-recognised consumer brands within horticulture and it could be better used. The industry could leverage this brand to reach a wider audience. Nurseries and retailers could make great use of Bloom to raise awareness around new plants and new promotions both during Bloom and post-event.

IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND CHANGE THREE THINGS ABOUT BLOOM TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? If I had a magic wand I would conjure up a magic glass roof, guaranteed sponsorship for show gardens with two years lead time and access to the sort of green infrastructure and facilities that ensures Bloom’s long term financial and environmental sustainability. ✽

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11 / EDUCATION

EDUCATION INVESTMENTS

BARE FRUIT John Mulhern and the teams from Teagasc Ashtown and the National Botanic Gardens explain how investment in facilities and course offerings are really starting to show a return

S

eptember has seen a big influx of students attending first-year programmes here in the Teagasc College at the National Botanic Gardens. In total, we have over 130 students attending the first year made up of Certificate in Horticulture full time, part-time and Degree level students. This year on our certificate programme there is great interest in part-time modules like Plant Identification, Fruit and Vegetable Production, Landscape Construction, and Biodiversity and the Natural environment, which we start after Christmas.

The part-time learning mode is ideal for students to take time off work and pursue one or more modules at a time in order to achieve the full award over a few years.

It’s a busy time in the college and in November we will welcome our Advanced certificate students who will be following either Nursery, landscape, turfgrass or food production streams.

The College hosted the annual Turf Science Lite event at its Ashtown campus on September 18th. This event is designed to showcase the latest research and technological innovations in turf agronomy. The overriding theme of this year’s event was integrated pest and disease management and sustainable approaches to sportsturf management. In his presentation, Henry Bechelet from ICL (UK) presented the findings from a range of trials conducted in the UK and Ireland to highlight the importance of cultural management and in particular plant nutrition in preventing plant disease infection. Mr Daniel Lightfoot (Syngenta UK) reported on the progress of the development, registration and introduction of a new active ingredient for control of a

ABOVE: FRUIT AND VEG AREA IN TEAGASC ASHTOWN BELOW: WILDFLOWER AREA BESIDE FRUIT AND VEG

wide range of turfgrass diseases. It is anticipated that this new product will be available in 2020 and will be a very good substitute for the three active ingredients that are being withdrawn from use in Ireland early next year. Daniel also presented an excellent demonstration of spray application techniques focussing in particular on sprayer nozzle technology, sprayer settings and water quantity. In his presentation, Dr Andy Owen (ICL UK) focussed on the latest technologies in controlled-release fertilisers. With the ever-increasing number of controlledrelease fertilisers on the market, Dr Owen highlighted how important it was to understand the nature and of the material being used and to monitor the subsequent performance of the turfgrass after application of the fertiliser material.

In his closing address to the delegates, Colman Warde the manager of ICL in Ireland commented how important it was for everyone in the sports turf sector to keep abreast of changing technologies and how happy ICL was to showcase the wonderful turfgrass facilities at Teagasc Ashtown.

It’s been a busy season in the Teagasc Ashtown fruit and vegetable garden, which saw the installation of a new layout within the fruit and vegetable garden. Our QQI Level 5 fruit and vegetable production students and level seven degree students were the powerhouse behind the installation of the fruit and vegetable garden which greatly enhances the learning resources and experience of our current and prospective students.

The fruit and vegetable garden comprises of ten steel-edged beds measuring 14m x 4m. These beds allow the students to implement a rotation system with

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EDUCATION / 11

@ORLANDO ROSU / 123RF.COM

each bed planted with various crops. The beds are further enhanced using drifts of annual wildflowers enticing beneficial insects into the garden and crops to target problematic pests. This strengthens our ethos of incorporating best practice in sustainable food production and integrated pest management, both of which are vitally important to meet the growing requirements of a progressive food industry.

The garden also contains a mixed orchard of apples, plums, pears, mulberries, cherries, and a large fruit area consisting of redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries and blueberries. This allows students to progress and develop their practical skills such as sowing, planting, crop husbandry, pruning and plant identification.

Further plans for the fruit and vegetable garden include the installation of a composting area demonstrating to student’s best practice in waste management. This will be complemented by the installation of a rain harvesting system allowing students to focus on the use of natural resources and their importance within sustainable food production. These current principles have been the driving force in this year’s current increase in full and part-time students studying our level 5 fruit and vegetable production module. It’s fantastic to be able to facilitate the growing number of students in our fruit and vegetable garden where they are responsible for the crops grown throughout the seasons and the produce

they harvest in an environment which is conscious of current concerns, topics and trends.

The use of technology is also incorporated in the ongoing development of the fruit and vegetable garden in Ashtown.

The introduction of a data logger which can monitor 12 various sensors concurrently is ideal for irrigation and fertigation programmes allowing students to position multiple sensors in prime cropping locations, whether indoor or outdoor. Students monitor an array of variables such as moisture levels, light levels and soil temperature which are all prudent to a successful cropping system. This information can be downloaded directly from the data logger on to the students PC's allowing them to dissect the relevant information on the importance of implementing precision controllers which leads to improved yield and quality products in an efficient and cost-effective manner. ✽

JOHN MULHERN has worked with Teagasc for more than 26 years, primarily in an educational capacity.

He is the current principal of the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin.

Kildalton College

Piltown, Co. Kilkenny

Helping people grow careers in horticulture for 46 years

• • • •

QQI Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture QQI Level 7 Bachelor of Science in Horticulture (in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology)

Part-time Component Awards at Levels 5 & 6

O Oppeenn D Daayy 56thth MOAcRto CH ber 2020 2018

Kildalton College has an extensive horticultural unit for student training, including a commercial nursery, fruit and vegetable production unit, protected crops and sportsturf units, as well as 16 hectares of established gardens and woodlands.

For further information: Email: Kildalton.college@teagasc.ie Website: www.teagasc.ie/training/colleges/kildalton/ Facebook: Teagasc Kildalton College Telephone: 051 644400 or 051 644407

CHECK OUT www.teagasc.ie/education/teagasc-colleges/botanic-gardens Telephone +353 (0)1 804 0201or email botanic.college@teagasc.ie

@kc_horticulture

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Autumn/Winter 2019

12 / RESEARCH

BEST4SOIL:

DEVELOPING A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL TO GUIDE CROP ROTATION IN EUROPE Dheeraj S. Rathore and Dr Michael T. Gaffney from the Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc, Ashtown share results from recent developments of Best4soil, a tool aimed at re-establishing soil health in Europe

“H

ealthy soils establish the foundation for sustainable horticultural and agricultural crop production, essential ecosystem functions and food security ” states the UN Food and

,

Agriculture Organisation. A handful of soil contains more microbial life than there are people on the planet earth.

These countless microorganisms work continuously to provide a range of ecosystem services including supporting the functioning of the environment and providing resilience to changes in the environment. The soil also serves as the largest filter and storage tank for fresh water on the planet.

Furthermore soil stores more carbon than the overall environment that subsists on the earth’s surface, through a process described as soil carbon sequestration. Moreover, soil accepts, decays, digests, cycles and stores all organic forms and converts it into nutrients that serve for the establishment of plants, animals and all other life forms on the planet.

Successful agricultural production depends greatly on the health of soil. Soil-borne diseases are major limiting factors in intensive crop production systems, negatively impacting plant health and in many instances requiring intervention with a plant protection product. The knowledge on susceptibility of different crops to soil-borne phytopathogens and nematodes exist through numerous scientific and technical publications.

Within Europe there is a wide variation in the practice and knowledge of crop rotation, and a central location or facility to collate information on the susceptibility of crops to different soil borne disease is warranted and needed.

This need has led to the creation of web-based decision support tool (DST) to assist growers/farmers in planning crop rotations which will be less impacted by the diseases of the previous crops. This tool has been created by collating information from scientific papers, manuals and institutional publications. However just collating this information is not enough, it needs to be accessible and its ultimate end users need to know it exists and how to use it. Therefore, one of the main objectives of the BEST4SOIL project is to build ‘community of practice’ (CoP) networks across Europe by inter-connecting growers, advisers, educators and researchers to maintain, improve or re-establish soil health

in Europe. The BEST4SOIL project has repackaged this existing knowledge and will communicate the most up to date knowledge on the range of phytopathogens and nematodes affecting both agricultural and horticultural crops through factsheets, videos and grower events.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT In 2014, the Sustainable Use of Pesticide Directive (128/2009) came into force in the European Union and in combination with Directive 1107/2019, there is now comprehensive legislation governing the placement and withdrawal of pesticides from the market together with for the first time, guidelines on the use phase of pesticides. As part of this new legislation on the ‘use’ phase, there is now a requirement for growers within the EU to produce crops in a manner compliant with the principles of Integrated Pest Management or IPM. IPM requires growers to consider alternatives to pesticides for crop protection purposes in the first instance, and only resort to synthetic pesticides as a ‘last resort’.

Often there has been a heavy focus on replacing chemicals with biological or low impact alternatives, however, in many cases these products either don’t exist or are ineffective.

More traditional approaches such as crop rotation, the incorporation of organic matter etc. are often undervalued, but may actually be more effective and the lowest cost to implement. The online tool or decision support tool created as part of this project aims to help growers by providing them with scientifically supported data, in an accessible form which will allow them to plan rotations with a view to minimising soil borne disease and nematode carry over. While the use of the app will not prevent disease it will hopefully assist growers in (1) encouraging rotation as a plant health strategy and (2) reduce potential pesticide inputs which could be avoided.

IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH As part of a general movement which is increasingly interested in the environmental impact of agriculture, there has been a surge of interest in research, education and advocacy to catalyse agricultural policies that support farmers & growers to conduct activities such as crop rotation which can improve soil health and help to mitigate against

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RESEARCH / 12 intensive agricultural production. Through published scientific literature, it is known that practices such as the application of compost/organic amendments, green manures/cover crops, anaerobic disinfestation (ASD) and bio-solarisation could potentially control soil-borne diseases. Thus, the BEST4SOIL thematic network will promote these practices to the growers by helping to select robust crop rotations which will lead to the maintenance and improvement of soil health across Europe. Furthermore, the network will strongly facilitate direct contacts between practitioners and researchers to exploit their diverse and extensive range of experience and knowledge. The CoP will expedite the improvement of regional and local soil health issues through implementation of suitable crop rotations.

DECISION SUPPORT TOOL TO AID ROTATIONAL PRACTICE For the last 12 months, Teagasc in cooperation with AgroScope and the University of Bern in Switzerland, Wageningen and DELPHY in Holland and SEGES in Denmark have been data mining to create a database upon which the tool will run. The databases have been populated with information on a range of pathogens and nematodes that affect vegetables, arable and cover crops, comprised of 29 horticultural and 40 arable/cover crops and their susceptibility to 106 soil-borne fungal pathogens and 52 nematode interactions. Teagasc were responsible for delivering the Horticultural portion of this database, which has been completed. This data set will be combined with data sets from partner countries and will be the basis of the Decision Support Tool being created at Wageningen in Holland. The tool will allow growers to input previous and future planned crops for a field and will return a number of potential diseases and nematodes which can be carried over from one crop into another. It will also provide advice, through a series of videos and factsheets on practical techniques growers can use to mitigate and reduce disease carry over. The tool and accompanying resources will be published in 22 languages and will be available by the end of 2019. A link to these resources will be available through the Horticulture section of the Teagasc website (www.teagasc.ie/Horticulture).

CONCLUSION Increasingly it seems that Irish growers will have to manage their crops with fewer pesticide inputs. There is also a need to increase the rate of crop rotation currently practiced.

Therefore, this will require increased planning and knowledge of disease interactions between different crops. However it is unrealistic to expect growers to trawl through scientific literature to identify potential threats to a crop. The DSS which has been developed will allow a grower to input their previous crops and their planned crop for a field or part of field and the App will then list the potential soil borne diseases or nematodes which may have the potential to be carried over from the previous crops into the next. It will also give some estimation of the potential crop damage caused by these diseases. Obviously growers will need to be aware of the diseases they had with previous crops, to allow them to fully assess the risk. The DSS will also suggest some

44

"A handful of soil contains more microbial life than there are people on the planet earth" mitigation techniques growers can implement to reduce disease pressure and links to factsheets and videos on these topics will be included in the DSS. Many documents have highlighted the need for agriculture to provide more food to feed more people. This can only be achieved by taking steps to maintain our soil health and also reduce our dependence on an ever decreasing set of plant protection products. Actively managing and retaining healthy soils is essential for growing healthier (and more) food with less inputs, helping to reduce the overall impact on the soil-plant ecosystem and help make it more resilient to crop pests and diseases, soil compaction and changing climatic conditions. With this aim, the BEST4SOIL project team of advisers, breeders, communicators, educators, growers and researchers from eight European countries has compiled information in easy accessible forms. Beyond the core project group, 20 European countries are part of BEST4SOIL network which is deploying local facilitators to set up the communities of practice to help promote soil management practices, to support and de-risk the adoption of more widespread rotations and innovative control strategies. To maintain, improve or reestablish soil health in Europe, BEST4SOIL has deployed three approaches; (i) adaptation of appropriate and optimised crop rotations, (ii) implementation of best practices with preventive effects such as use of compost, organic amendments, cover crops and green manures, and (iii) deployment of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and bio-solarisation methods to reduce the fungal inoculum, thus soil-borne diseases. The simple overall aim of the project is to provide information to growers and advisors throughout Europe, in a manner which allows them to practically apply the techniques highlighted, while providing a ‘support network’ of other growers and advisors interested in adopting, or with experience in implementing cultural approaches to soil health and soil borne disease management.

Please note: All tools and publications referred to in the article will be available through the Teagasc website once launched. If you would like to receive a link when available or are interested in joining a ‘community of practice’, please email Michael.Gaffney@Teagasc.ie .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project is financially supported by the EU Horizon 2020, funded under grant agreement ID: 817696. We also acknowledge the support from the project partners in 12 EU countries. ✽

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13 / RESEARCH

BIOCHAR

POTENTIAL Drs. Karen O’Hanlon and Munoo Prasad explore the exciting potential of Biochar as a plant growth promoter

B

iochar is a carbonaceous product obtained by the pyrolysis of organic materials. Pyrolysis uses high temperatures to break down biomass or waste in an oxygen-free environment.

Nowadays, the pyrolysis process and Biochar are being studied as a treatment technology to convert organic wastes and by-products into organic products for use in agriculture. The interest and use of Biochar is inspired by terra preta de indio (Amazonian black earth) from the preColumbian civilization times, which were characterised by remarkable soil fertility.

KEY BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR More recently Biochar has been promoted as; ●A s a form of carbon sequestration and storage ●F or its potential benefits for bioenergy production (e.g., syngas, bio-oil and heat) ●F or use in soils including as a component of growing media to enhance crop productivity ●T o reduce nitrate leaching through nitrate and phosphate capture ●T o adsorb contaminants, such as arsenic and copper

from soils ●A s an animal feed ●F or the reduction of odour and ammonia from slurry ●T o reduce trace-gas emissions from soils (nitrous oxide

and methane) Importantly, from a climate perspective, Biochar is very persistent in the environment, and so its application to soils can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for long periods of time. Thus there are exciting possibilities in using Biochar to mitigate climate change by carbon sequestration or waste management.

Biochar also has great potential for the waste-processing industry as it allows for the recovery of waste (e.g. garden waste and forestry waste) as a potentially useful by-product.

Other wastes (e.g. manure and sludge are not suitable if the Biochar is destined for use as a component of a growing media due to high electrical conductivity).

BIOCHAR IN GROWING MEDIA Most of the research on the use of Biochar in growing media is aimed towards its application as an alternative

to environmentally unfriendly substrates such as peat, vermiculite and perlite. These studies (including trials in Ireland) have shown that Biochar: Reduced nitrogen and phosphorus leaching The improved water efficiency of growing media Improved plant fresh weight and root development The improvement of disease resistance; and Offsetting or reversing of carbon footprints Horticulture in temperate climate zones is energy-intensive and the use of peat as the main ingredient in substrates releases additional GHG emissions during mining and processing. Increasingly restrictive legislation and wetland ecosystem destruction, through its extraction, will limit peat use. Nowadays in order to attain sustainability in potted plant production, producers are opting for peat alternatives, such as Biochar, that provide good performance, are readily available, inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

Lab-scale data on Biochar carbon recalcitrance compared to peat indicate that spent Biochar-based substrates in the soil are a highly effective carbon storage tool (~80% vs. 40% respectively). The combination of bioenergy replacing fossil energy, Biochar replacing peat in the substrate and long term storage of the spent Biochar in soil all contribute substantially to GHG reductions.

In order to make Biochar an effective horticultural replacement for peat, it is recommended that Biochar feedstock be standardised as well as the pyrolysis process (temperature and residence time as this affects surface area) so that growers can rely on consistent and reproducible Biochar to get the desired effect.

Large scale change-over to Biochar will not occur unless there are financial incentives from government (Carbon Credits) or market incentives.

ENRICHED BIOCHAR A further enhancement to Biochar is possible due to its large surface area which acts as a natural environment for beneficial bacteria and fungi. The inclusion of plant growthpromoting bacteria (PGPB), most notably the spore former Bacillus subtilis, has the following additional benefits: ● It increases the uptake of minerals into the plant ● i t promotes plant growth ● I t modulates plant growth hormone levels

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RESEARCH / 13 ● I t produces siderophores, which make iron available to

the plant ● I t increases systemic resistance to disease (including Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phythium, Botrytis and many more pathogens); and ● I t acts as a food source for plants and beneficial fungi at cell death stage.

Nitrogen fixing organisms such as Azotobacter and rhizobia produce bioavailable nitrogen for plants. The spongelike characteristics of biochar work in tandem with these organisms by helping to trap the nitrites and nitrates in the soil. This results in less run-off and the improved retention assists the nitrification and de-nitrification processes.

The symbiosis between plant-fungi-bacteria within the environs of the biochar ultimately leads to a reduction in the requirements for pesticide and fertiliser usage for growers.

RESEARCH INTO BIOCHAR PRODUCTION IN IRELAND The Irish Biochar Co-op has been involved in developing

and promoting the Biochar sector in Ireland for a number of years with a report produced in 2015 called “PBx2, Pyrolysis of Biomass for Power and Biochar” this report was produced with collaboration from University of Limerick and the Ithaka Institute in Switzerland. Co-op members have also been responsible for the developing of a European Innovation Partnership Agri project called Biomass2Bochar which is currently building a mobile Biochar production unit for use on farms.

The All Ireland Biochar and Activated Carbon Conference was held in October 2018 as part of the trans-national Interreg funded North-West Europe project known as RE-DIRECT. The Irish Bioenergy Association and the Western Development Commission are both partners in the project which aims to develop indigenous Biochar and activated carbon production from low value, waste or residual biomass sources. The event saw stakeholders from the research, farming, local government and business communities come together to discuss the development of the sector in Ireland. ✽

DR.KAREN O’HANLON is the founder of Probio

DR.MUNOO PRASAD was a member of the Irish

Carbon. She has co-ordinated field trials on plant growth promoting bacteria across Europe and worked as an Ecotoxicologist in the Department of Agriculture.

Contact details: info@probiocarbon.ie Telephone: 0879816569. www.probiocarbon.ie

Committee for The European Biochar Research Network & COST Action TD11. He was also a member of the Scientific Committee EU Horizon 2020 Carbolex Project based in the UK Biochar Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

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14 / EDIBLES

SUSTAINABLE EATING AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PRODUCE SECTOR Lorcan Bourke, Sector Manager, Horticulture with Bord Bia explores how rising environmental awareness is impacting consuming habits and the future direction of food production

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PREPARED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES? Fresh whole veg is driving produce value growth in the UK market. Whole piece fruit is increasing in value too. Fresh prepared salads/veg remains a small part of the produce market worth £1.4bn (-3.2%), but is currently struggling in the UK– the total produce market (including prepared) is worth £12.6bn (+2.2%).

Across most retailers, fresh whole produce is prospering at the expense of prepared. There are two macro trends driving this: 1. A movement towards scratch cooking for financial, health and ethical reasons, affecting prepared veg in particular.

Example: When asked: "How would you make economic savings at home?"; 26% said they would cook more (relying less on prepared food). Growth in scratch cooking is coming most strongly from families.

2. Concern about plastic – the ethical element of the move towards scratch cooking. People want to buy less produce with plastic wrapping/packaging. People are becoming more concerned about single-use plastics.

More people are planning to shop more sustainably – with 70% declaring in a recent study that they plan to switch or use less. British shoppers aren’t just moving to whole veg because they’ve developed a conscience - price is important.

Falling promotions in prepared veg/fruit sector are playing a big role in the category’s decline. There is a similar pattern in prepared fruit. The price gap between prepared and whole veg is at its lowest in 5 years (£3.12/kg). So promotions aren’t a long term solution.

Kantar suggests that if consumers are scratch cooking more, produce companies need to make it easy with ‘assisted scratch’ veg and fruit items. Several factors indicate this is not just a short term dip but a long term trend – the public are scratch cooking for health reasons too. The category is seen to need genuine innovation that adds value and is more sustainable than current options.

The conclusion of the discussion was that the UK public are becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability and health and diets are evolving as a result. Fresh produce companies were advised to promote both factors in tandem and provide the public with the transparency to make their own life choices. Prepared produce (and vegetables in particular) are facing a 'perfect storm' of consumer reaction against plastic, a move towards scratch cooking, and fewer promotions. ✽

LORCAN BOURKE is sector

©STOKPIC (PIXABAY)

A

t the recent UK Fresh Produce conference, the KANTAR UK presentation highlighted how global sustainability is increasingly becoming a public concern and will have a significant impact on farming and the way we eat in the future. British Government recommendations are now considering sustainability in healthy eating initiatives and putting produce centre stage. While the classic food pyramid evolves towards recommending consuming more fresh produce (fruit, veg and potatoes) and consuming less processed foods, new food pyramids are emerging, evaluating the sustainability credentials of all foods.

The knock-on effect of increased consumer awareness of both consumption and sustainability has manifest itself in real behaviour changes and has given rise to the growth of plantbased meals in the UK. There has been a 21% growth increase in plant-based meals in the UK since 2015 (£1.1bn market).

Strict veganism only accounts for a small percentage of all plant-based meals. In the UK, the growth in plant-based meals is coming from the wider population – with only 14% of plantbased meals being consumed by vegans and 11% of meat-free meals being consumed by vegetarians. The two important factors that UK ‘Flexitarians’ cited for their reduced meat consumption were: 81% Health and 39% the Environment.

UK studies have found that some vegetable sales are more reliant on meat than others. Vegetables that are more likely to be consumed in a meat-free meal include tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, celery, lettuce and courgette (all with a combined market growth +5%). Vegetables that are more likely to be consumed in protein meals include potatoes, onions, carrots, peas, mushrooms and broccoli (with combined market decline -1%).

manager with Bord Bia. If you have any questions or comments on the content of this feature you can contact him at lorcan.bourke@bordbia.ie

Autumn/Winter 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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