A new grower organisation, the Nursery Exhibition Organisation (NEO) has officially been launched to represent specialist independent nurseries in the UK.
According to the group, in 2006 there were over 800 specialist nurseries listed in the RHS Plant Finder. Worryingly, 20-years later there are less than half this number. The NEO stresses that specialist nurseries are essential for advancing the horticultural industry through plant conservation, growing expertise and the cultivation of a diverse range of high-quality plant material.
The Nursery Exhibitors Organisation (NEO) has been formed by a small group of nurseries to promote and support all specialist growers in the UK. The aims of NEO include: promoting the importance of specialist nurseries and their diverse range of plants to both the public and within the horticultural industry; actively promoting homegrown and British grown plants, assisting nursery exhibitors in showcasing their areas of expertise through judged floral displays at Flower shows and to share their specialist horticultural knowledge with the public.
Other aims are:
- To actively pursue opportunities to have plant marquees, plant fairs or ‘plant villages’ at new and existing events.
- To encourage and support new nurseries through mentoring.
- To encourage people of all ages to pursue a career within the specialist nursery sector.
- To invite all specialist nurseries in the UK to join NEO, support one another in our efforts and collaborate together as a community.
Members of NEO are British nurseries of all shapes and sizes growing an enormously diverse range of plants. Recruitment of members is ongoing, but the group already has more than 70 members, who are now working together to implement ideas across the UK for their future, particularly the need for more public events. A newly constructed website lists nursery members with a search facility by location and plant type. A full list of events where plants can be purchased directly from the grower nurseries is also included. NEO has an ever-growing group of supporters including well known personalities who have pledged their support and expressed their belief in the importance of specialist nurseries, honorary members and associate members (drawn from the many diverse plant societies, horticultural groups, flower shows and events).
Alan Titchmarsh CBE, patron of the NEO commented, “Nurserymen are the beating heart of the plantsman’s world.”
In a statement, NEO added, ‘Specialist nurseries, by virtue of their operations, represent environmentally sustainable enterprises. Through its aims, NEO will promote the social and economic sustainability of its members, enabling them to continue protecting the environment by growing plants using best practices. NEO support will contribute to the wellbeing and continued success of our members by fostering collaboration and mutual assistance.
‘We are delighted to say that reaction to NEO has been incredibly supportive. By working together with nurseries and the wider world of horticulture, NEO feels there is a positive future ahead.’
