Stand sales have been booming as the industry shows strong support for the return of the Four Oaks Trade Show in its 50th anniversary year. Organisers are expecting to sell out for this year’s event which is set to be held at Four Oaks Nurseries, Lower Withington, 6 & 7 September 2022.
The Four Oaks Trade Show began as a nursery Open Day in Spring 1971. The Coutts Brothers, pioneers in the use of supplementary lighting through collaboration with the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank and the local electricity board Norweb, decided to share the technology with local growers. Hundreds turned up, including Bill Hannah and Doug Bradbrook whose business Bradbrook & Hannah Ravensworth Nursery, had started a couple of years earlier, growing bedding plants. Bill recalls being shocked to see Antirrhinum outside at Four Oaks in early February, way before the usual timing for Northern England of May. He also recalls Pat Coutts, who went on to develop the trade show into the major event it is today, demonstrating pricking out at a rate of ‘26 trays an hour’ a feat believed to be unrivalled!
Ravensworth Nurseries, as it’s now known, has exhibited ever since and will do so this September with the next generation at the helm, Fiona Dean, Matthew and Jonathon Bradbrook.
Today, the trade show is a truly international event across two busy days, bringing all sections of horticulture together. By providing the platform for face-to-face trading, relationship building, sharing of ideas and technology, the show has acted as an invaluable driving force for the industry over the past five decades.
“We’re hugely grateful for the ongoing support of so many loyal exhibitors who are now chomping at the bit to return to Four Oaks and we’re very excited to host the industry event of the year once more. We also have a raft of new exhibitors, bringing products as diverse as electric vehicles, Christmas decorations, customs & currency services and of course lots of fantastic plants which are the heart of the show – including a Belgian Pavilion of Flemish nurseries organised by VLAM. It’s going to be joyous to have everyone back to celebrate the 50th anniversary with us and to come together at a time where the sector has many challenges, not least how to retain millions of new gardeners gained over the last two years.” Christina Walker of Four Oaks said.
The confirmed line-up already includes everything growers need for their production, from new plant varieties, all sorts of growing media, supplies, machinery, irrigation, lighting, pots/packaging, glasshouse structures and services. A wonderful array of mature stock will appeal to the retailers, landscapers, garden designers, professional gardeners alike, with an assortment of associated equipment and products. While a selection of resale lines including Christmas trees and merchandise, planters, garden furniture, gifts and garden ornaments will provide lots of options for the retailers, whatever their platform or size. There’ll be business systems/services and sources of support and information, both from commercial exhibitors and the many trade associations/industry bodies involved in the new Educate, Innovate and Collaborate zone. Organisers are currently finalising the conference program, which will include high-quality content for visitors as professionals, as well as for their businesses, to be unveiled later this month.
Entry to the exhibition and conference is free, as are parking and catalogues which will be available on site.
The 2022 exhibitor list is now online: www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com
