Regional Member Events
Attend our new series of Regional Member Events!
These events offer a chance to connect and engage with fellow HTA members at various venues, learn from industry experts on topics affecting you, and share your voice to make a difference in environmental Horticulture.
Click the sections below to find an event near you:
South East Regional Meeting
'Retail Crime Revisited: Preventing & Reporting'
Join us at Old Barn Garden Centre (Tates of Sussex) for a day of expert insights, practical advice, and shared experiences with fellow HTA members. Building on last October’s meeting – where reporting retail crime was highlighted as a challenge – we’ll explore how to make the most of crime reporting systems, hearing directly from the companies that run them and retailers already using them.
Hear from Sussex Police Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and speak to a diverse mix of businesses specialising in retail crime solutions, with Q&A and a round-table discussion to equip you with practical tools and fresh perspectives for strengthening your business and our wider community.
Date: Thursday 9 October 2025
Time: 10:00 - 14:00
Venue: Old Barn Garden Centre (Tates of Sussex)
Address: Worthing Rd, Dial Post, Horsham RH13 8NR
Agenda:
- Recap on previous meeting & where we are now (Jeremy Costello, HTA)
- Understanding crime reporting systems (Adam Ratcliffe, SBN; Corin Dennison, RACK)
- Q&A on reporting systems
- Preventing crime (Katy Bourne, Sussex Police Crime Commissioner)
- Round table discussion on preventing crime
*In addition to the presentations listed above, we will have various retail crime-related businesses in attendance.
East Anglia Regional Meeting
'Managing bagged media & peat-free plants in the retail environment'
Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
Time: 10:00 - 15:E00
Venue: Chapel Cottage Plants Ltd
Address: Hook Rd, Wimblington, March PE15 0QL
Northern Home Counties & London Regional Meeting
'Building Resilient Treescapes: It Starts with Tree Selection'
Grow your tree knowledge at Majestic Trees! Whether you want to expand your expertise, enhance your plant area or nursery skills, or better serve your customers, join us for a day of hands-on learning and expert insight.
Tony Kirkham MBE, retired Head of the Arboretum at RBG Kew, will share his experience on creating resilient, diverse treescapes, covering tree selection, establishment, diversity, shade planting, and climate and pest challenges. He and Eliot Barden (Majestic Trees) will lead a guided nursery tour to see these ideas in action.
The day also includes updates from Sally Cullimore on the HTA’s Strong Roots campaign, refreshments, lunch, and opportunities to network with fellow members.
Date: Monday 13 October 2025
Time: 10:00 - 14:30
Venue: Majestic Trees
Address: Chequers Meadow, Chequers Hill, Flamstead, St Albans AL3 8ET
Agenda:
- Background of Majestic Trees
- Building a resilient treescape for the future and why we need to think outside the box (Tony Kirkham)
- Nursery tour & learnings in action (Tony Kirkham & Eliot Barden)
- Lunch will be provided
- Advocacy for UK Tree Production - The Future (Sally Cullimore)
Wales Regional Meeting
We invite you to join us at Pugh’s Garden Village , Radyr for an afternoon of discussions on future business improvements and a focus on Retailing and Merchandising for Christmas . The event will include a tour and an audit / feedback of part of the business plus an introduction to the HTA’s Business Improvement Scheme.
Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Venue: Pugh's Garden Village Cardiff
Address: Tynant Nursery, Morganstown, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introductions
- Business Improvement Presentations
- Lunch and Networking Opportunities
- Tour and Audit of site
- Retailing at Christmas
- Summary of Day and close.
Northern England Regional Meeting
Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Venue: Bents Garden Centre and Nursery Lancashire
Address: Warrington Rd, Leigh End, Glazebury, Warrington WA3 5NT
Agenda:
- Selling More at Christmas presentations
- Light Refreshments
- Tour of Nursery
- Tour of Garden Centre
Scotland Regional Meeting
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
Time: TBC
Venue: Pentland Plants
Address: Pentland Plants, Pentland Mains, Loanhead EH20 9QG
Devon & Cornwall Regional Event - The Eden Project Growing Point Nursery
We invite you to join us at The Eden Projects Nursery on Tuesday 23 September. These events are free to attend and are a great informal way to meet with other members and learn about other businesses.
The event is being kindly hosted by the horticultural department at The Eden Project at their onsite Nursery. You will hear about what the nursery produces and the facilities they have and a tour of the nursery.
Planet Mark will be giving an update on Eden's sustainable journey. You will also hear about developing nature-based fertilisers and what’s next for The Eden Project.
In the afternoon attendees have been given free access into The Eden Project. Lunch is included.
Date: Tuesday 23 September 2025
Time: 10:30 – 14:30
Venue: The Eden Project Growing Point Nursery
Address: Growing Point Nursery, Eden Project, Bodelva, Saint Austell PL24 2SG
Agenda:
- Arrival at 10:00 for welcome drinks
- In the morning there will be an Introduction and update on The Eden Project Growing Point Nursery, including a tour.
- We will hear from Planet Mark on Eden's Sustainable Journey
- Lunch will be served at 12:45
- In the afternoon - Developing nature-based fertilizers and What’s next for Eden.
- 14:00 onwards – You are welcome to visit the Eden Project (Free Access has been kindly offered for this event) site closes at 17:00
Southwest Regional Event - Hillier Garden Centre
We invite you to join us at Hillier Garden Centre Newbury on Tuesday 4 November, a HTA Sustainability Reference Site.
You will learn about the history of the business, including a tour, and their positive approach to our changing industry. George Hillier and Andy Smith will be speaking on a sustainability project, Uncover Recover, which Hillier is working on in partnership with the Royal Warrant Holders Association, Planet Mark, and Natural England. Learn about its benefits and how they can support other HTA members in getting involved.Planet Mark will also be there to update us on the Journey to Net Zero.
The event is free to attend, and lunch is included.
Date: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Venue: Hillier Garden Centre
Address: Priors Court Road, Hermitage, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9TG
Agenda:
- Arrival 10.30 welcome drinks
- Morning -an update from Hilliers and tour
- Lunch- 12.30
- Planet Mark
- Uncover Recover- George Hillier and Andy Smith
Southwest Regional Event - The Matford Centre
The HTA will be in The Conference room at the entrance to the show.. Please come and see us for an update on HTA Membership or any industry queries you have. You will be hearing from Sally Cullimore and Pippa Greenwood with topical updates. Pastries & coffee will be available.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Time: 9:00 - 16:00
Venue: The Matford Centre
Address: Matford Park Rd, Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8FD
Agenda:
A member of the HTA Team will be available to speak to 11-3pm
- 12.30pm- Presentation- “Pippa Greenwood with an industry update on Pests & Pathogens
- 1.30pm- Presentation- Sally Cullimore- “What does the EU-UK reset mean for my business”
Register to visit the show here.
It would be helpful to book here to attend the presentations.
Yorkshire
We invite you to join us at Langlands Garden Centre on Wednesday 1 October for an enjoyable and informative meeting on loss prevention and retail crime reporting.
You will hear from the Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner, Leo Hammond, on the broader picture and opportunities to collaborate; Matt Heimes of B2BSG Solutions will demonstrate the latest loss prevention techniques, and Amy Stubbs, MD at British Garden Centres and Nathan Wilson, Head of Group Security at Blue Diamond Group, will provide an industry perspective.
Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Time: 14.30 - 17.00
Venue: Langlands Garden Centre
Address: York Road, Shiptonthorpe, York, YO43 3PN
Agenda:
- 14:30 - Welcome and introductions
- An update from Leo Hammond, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner
- A demonstration from Matt Heimes, B2BSG Solutions
- Hear from Amy Stubbs, MD British Garden Centres and Nathan Wilson, Head of Group Security, Blue Diamond Group
- 17:00 - Event ends
West Midlands
We invite you to join us at Pershore College on Thursday 16 October for an enjoyable and informative meeting on the qualifications available through Pershore and career enrichment via industry collaboration. You will enjoy a tour of the college and hear about their latest developments and have the opportunity to discuss with your peers how your business can help broaden the students’ learning experience.
Sarah Want from MorePeople will also talk about recruitment challenges and opportunities through working with an agency. This is the perfect occasion for you to meet other HTA members from your area and chat with them about horticultural careers, a subject which I know many of you are concerned about.
Date: Thursday 16 October 2025
Time: 11:00 - 16:00
Venue: Pershore College
Address: Avon Bank, Pershore, WR10 3JP
Agenda:
- Welcome and introduction
- Josh Egan-Wyer: Pershore College update and tour
- Lunch
- Josh Egan-Wyer, Pershore College: Qualifications update and working with the industry
- Geoff Ceasar, Allensmore Nurseries: How the industry can help, the Allensmore experience
- Sarah Want, MorePeople: Recruitment challenges and opportunities
East Midlands
We invite you to join us at Rutland Nursery on Tuesday 7 October for an enjoyable and informative meeting on maximising the opportunity of your garden centre. You will hear about the history and enjoy a tour of this recently redeveloped family business overlooking the beautiful Rutland Water and hear from retail experts, Boyd Douglas-Davies, The Boyd Partnership and Andrew Burton, Pleydell Smithyman on maximising the opportunities of your retail centre and utilizing space effectively. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other HTA members in your area and chat with them over a complimentary afternoon tea.
Date: Tuesday 7 October 2025
Time: 13:30 - 16:30
Venue: Rutland Nursery
Address: Lyndon Road, Manton, Oakham, LE15 8RN
Agenda:
- Welcome
- Introduction and brief history of Rutland Nursery
- Garden Centre Tour
- Boyd Douglas-Davies: Maximizing the Opportunity
- Afternoon Tea and networking
- Andrew Burton: Utilizing Space Effectively
Regional Events Booking Form
Please fill in all the required information to book onto the regional event you would like to attend.
Should you have any additional questions or queries please contact the HTA Events team below who will be able to assist you with any further information