More new products aim to win GAN awards

Erica carnea 'Claribelle' from Forest Edge Nurseries

Exhibitors continue to enter their latest products in the various new product award categories at southern horticultural trade show GAN 2011, which takes place near Bournemouth on February 9.

Recent entries for New Plant Variety include:
•  Erica carnea 'Claribelle' from Forest Edge Nurseries – a new heather introduction from the specialist supplier. A low growing, spreading plant displaying clear rich pink flowers set on ascending branches of sea green foliage throughout late winter and spring.
•  Botany Bay Nurseries will show its new Jumbo Plugs – big enough to plant direct into a hanging basket or planted container – giving accelerated establishment, no misses and quicker finishing times.

Osmocote Bloom from Scotts Professional

Botany Bay Nurseries’ Jumbo Plugs

   
Entries for Best Technical Product or Service include:
•  Osmocote Bloom from Scotts Professional – a controlled released fertilizer for bedding production. Its 2-3 month longevity eliminates the need for water soluble fertilizers and it promotes quicker and better rooting.   
•  Electronic & Technical Services will show its Evaposensor and interface for mist and irrigation control, which enables accurate matching of water use to plant requirements.  It automatically adjusts mist, fog or irrigation applications according to the plant environment and weather. 

And latest entries for Best New Retail Product include Vivid Arts’ fun meerkat ornament range – launched last year, it helps garden retailers maximise on the high awareness for meerkats and enables centres to bring some life and amusement into their retail displays.

Products will be judged during the one-day show and awards made on the day.
The venue will be Dorset’s Golden Acres Nursery near Bournemouth International Airport.
www.ganshow.com

Golden Acres appoints first operations manager, David Goble

Expanding horticultural group Golden Acres has appointed retail specialist David Goble to its new role of garden centre operations manager, with oversight of its four centres in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.
   He said: “I will be working closely with each centre and buyers. One of our objectives is to create an increased ‘high street’ feel to our centres, with great value for money and excellent ranges of garden lifestyle products.
   “Golden Acres is currently looking to acquire more centres so my job is set to expand shortly; I’ve arrived at an exciting time.”
   David is a former Woolworths store manager and area manager. He lives in Fareham with his wife Kirsty and their two children.
www.golden-acres-nursery.co.uk   
Photography by Phil Dowding.

Groveley Detection: First open path hydrogen sulphide gas detector

Groveley Detection, which specialises in hazardous area fire and gas detection, has received its first order for the new Simtronics GD1 open path hydrogen sulphide gas detector.
   The detector is faster than traditional detectors, needs less routine maintenance and no field recalibration.
   Produced by Simtronics ASA in Norway, the GD1 offers failsafe, reliable and robust H2S detection for areas likely to see gas releases, such as offshore or onshore installations, power plants and waste water treatment plants.
   Groveley Detection’s managing director Robert Bennet said: “This is a major leap for personnel safety – with a response time of five seconds to a H2S leak, the highly sensitive GD1 is ideal for personnel safety monitoring and considerably faster than other toxic detection technologies.
   “It offers real cost savings over traditional point gas detectors. Using a single transmitter/receiver pair, the detector typically covers distances of 30-50 metres, which cuts costs as fewer devices are needed to cover the same risk.”
   The GD1 uses non consumptive sensors which eliminates sensor replacement (as required with alternative electro-chemical point sensor devices), this means further cost reductions for maintenance, cabling and calibration.

www.groveley.co.uk

New products line up for GAN awards

Exhibitors at GAN 2011 on February 9 are revealing their new products and services as they set their sights on winning one of the show’s range of awards.

Entries for New Plant Variety include:
• Ball Colegrave’s Petunia 'Black Velvet' – the world’s first ever black Petunia,
• Kernock Park Plants’ newly-bred hardy perennial Iberis in pink,
• Seiont Nurseries’ Ugni Moliniae ‘Butterball’ with apricot spring growth and edible berries.
   
Entries for Best Technical Product or Service include:
• the Institute of Horticulture’s free mentoring service for horiculturists,
• Martin Lishman’s range of self-propelled pedestrian sprayers.   

Entries for Best New Retail Product include:
• Plantopia’s ‘Easyfit’ Christmas tree stand,
• Vital Earth’s plant food Vitalizer, made from recycled green waste,
• William Sinclair Horticulture’s SuperFyba growing medium.

Products will be judged during the one-day show and awards made on the day.
   The southern horticultural trade show GAN 2011 will place on Wednesday February 9. Its website is now full of exhibitor’s information and online booking.
   The venue will be Dorset’s Golden Acres Nursery near Bournemouth International Airport.
   For information and free online registration, visit www.ganshow.com

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Pictures (top to bottom):
• Kernock Park Plants’ ‘Iberis Absolutely Amethyst’
• Ball Colegrave’s Petunia 'Black Velvet'
• Seiont Nurseries’ Ugni Moliniae ‘Butterball’
• Vital Earth’s plant food Vitalizer