The Garden Press Event: A Horticultural Eye-Opener

By Sophie Williams (Group 56)

This February, I had the opportunity to attend the Garden Press event in London, the first event in the gardening year! This event is a ‘launch pad’ for new and upcoming companies and products in the horticulture industry.

I am currently on my first secondment at Farplants Sales Ltd, a wholesale supplier of outdoor plants. As a newcomer to the horticulture industry, my time with Farplants so far has been eye-opening, with valuable experiences continuously expanding my knowledge. The Farplants group are consistently seeking ways to improve and innovate, with in-house plant breeding being one example. It was great to see these impressive end products showcased at the Garden Press Event. This year, the team were proud to exhibit new products, with the star being ‘Euphorbia x martinii Walberton’s® Little Treasure®. It was pleasing to see that the Farplants values of excellence, innovation and care were clearly mutual principles across the horticulture industry.

The Garden Press Event was a vibrant display of exciting innovative products for 2025, ranging from plant-care tools to sustainable solutions. With 100 exhibitors, it was eye-opening to see how broad the industry is, while collaborating so positively. It was inspiring to see how much dedication and effort goes into developing products, as well as the well-deserved recognition they receive. The Horticultural Trades Association and the Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association teams held the event to a high standard, creating a great atmosphere for all who attended.

As well as diving into the dynamic future of horticulture, the event provided great opportunity to network with passionate horticulturists and journalists. I had the chance to engage in insightful conversations and have gained a huge appreciation for how the horticulture industry strive to embrace change and continue to thrive. I was particularly drawn to the YPHA (Young people in horticulture association) stand, which was presented by a great group who were passionate to attract a younger demographic to all areas of horticulture. This group inspired me to sign up and embrace the opportunity to join a supportive community of like-minded people. I would like to encourage other trainees working in horticulture to join the YPHA too- it’s free!

As the season unfolds, I am looking forward to embracing even more exciting opportunities and attending more events with Farplants!