Four Oaks Nurseries was set up on a 2 acre greenfield site by brothers Stuart and Arthur Coutts in 1964 for the production of bedding plants. The Vicar of Chelford had the foresight to help them source land as he could see potential employment for local people and particularly married women in a rural area.
The brothers pioneered the use of supplementary lighting in seedling production, working closely with Manchester University’s Botany Department at Jodrell Bank and Norweb, the local Electricity Board. The first “Four Oaks Open Day” was organised in 1971 by Norweb to promote the use of growing rooms in commercial horticulture. Over 400 local growers visited and 4 trade exhibitors had a presence – one of which, Henry Alty is still here 40 years on.
By 1979, there were around 80 exhibitors and at this stage Four Oaks took over the organisation and it became the “Four Oaks Trade Show”, Pat Coutts at the helm.
The business was bought by Richard Harding in 2002 which secured the future of the site and the show has continued to prosper with his support.
Tel: +44 (0)1477 571392
Fax: +44 (0)1477 571314
Mobile: 07767 640420
Email: four-oaks-hort@btconnect.com
Website: www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com
Just a few of the many stands that The Landscaper will visit:
Europlanters is a major supplier of plant containers in the UK. They are also leading designers and manufacturers of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) planters for interior and exterior landscaping.
They stock an extensive range of Fibre Glass Planters, Brushed/Polished Stainless Steel plant containers, Galvanised Steel and wooden planters as well as Rotational & Injection Moulded Plastic plant containers for interior and exterior landscaping.
In addition they sell a variety of related products including artificial rocks, leaf shine, coloured pebbles, artificial topiary and Mona plant systems to help you provide the complete service to your clients – a one-stop planters garden centre!
Tel: 0161 449 7900
Fax: 0161 449 7361
sales@europlanters.com
www.europlanters.com
Contact: John Wilkes
POPLAR NURSERIES are wholesale growers of bareroot plants growing many varieties for sale to other wholesale growers and garden centres. The climate and soils unique to East Anglia enable them to choose the best growing conditions for each variety of tree.
They grow 100 acres of open ground plants which include, Fruit trees, Ornamental trees, Roses, Conifers, Soft fruit, Hedging and Specimen Trees.
Tel: 01945 465547
Fax: 01945 476020
07770 452838
poplarnurseries@tiscali.co.uk
Contact Mike Harper
Sjaak van der Vijver BV export of an extensive range of cut-flowers and plants to regular customers worldwide.
Benefits include a new ‘Live view’ Webshop system, so ‘what you see is what you get’. You will also be able to shop at a time to suit you – even from home!
Tel +31174 624493
Fax: +31174 622873
www.dutchflowersandplants.com
UK Mobile: 07769 264044
Email: johnw@svdvyver.com
Contact: John Waddington
Rustic Garden Supplies offer a range of baskets, tubs and planters suitable for the retail nursery or large horticultural grower.
They products fall into 4 main categories.
Outdoor Wood – Our ever popular Burntwood range, Acacia and Oak barrels and troughs.
Zinc Collection – Unusual and attractive garden and indoor containers.
Ornamental – Our best selling range of novelty planters and wheelbarrows.
Basket ware – Willow, Wicker and Rattan ranges. Baskets are lined and extremely durable.
Tel: 01225 332233
Fax: 01225 333020
sales@rusticgarden.co.uk
www.rusticgarden.co.uk
Eagle Plants offer one of the widest ranges of perennials propagated by cuttings and tissue culture technique. Their comprehensive assortment features staple favourites such as Hosta,
Cordyline and Hedera helix and the latest premium introductions including the fantastic colour palette of Heuchera from Terra Nova.
Tel: +44 (0)1295 256721
Mob: +44 (0)7825 616164
Fax: +44 (0)1295 691007
jason@eagleplants.com
www.eagleplants.com
Contact: Jason Eagles
The Palm Centre will be exhibiting a range of home grown 3ltr and 7.5ltr ferns as well as tree ferns, palms, bamboo and other popular exotics.
They grow over 40% of their own stock. Wayne Hollingworth, previously of Britannia Ferns, joined the company in 2009 to add a wealth of horticultural knowledge to the business, and we now have over 2 acres under cultivation with much more to come. Having grown all varieties of plants for over 35 years, Wayne grows fantastic ferns which have proved immensely popular and featured in many award winning gardens at Chelsea and other shows.
Tel: 0208 2556191
Fax: 0208 2556192
www.palmcentre.co.uk
Contact: Toby Shobbrook
The Northern Liner Company stand will have a wide range of top quality liners including many recent introductions.
On show for the first time will be two superb new black Sambucus clones, a variegated Clematis wilsonii and a lime yellow clone of Rubus Olympic Double all exclusive to Northern Liners and so new they have not yet even been named, so any suggestions are welcome.
Other new plants on the stand will include: Ugni Butterball, Euonymus Kathy, Sambucus Eiffel, Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow, Caryopteris White Surprise and a range of exciting new Heucheras, including Blackberry Jam, Electra, Berry Smoothie and Fire Chief.
Tel: 01253 790859
sales@northernliners.net
www.northernliners.co.uk
J. A. Jones is a wholesale nursery specialising in the production of over 90,000 trees in sizes from transplants/feathers to, and including, multi-stems and semi-matures.
Growing on 105 acres of inherently fertile Grade 1 soil, excellent fibrous root systems are developed which when combined with a strict growing regime, produce strong healthy trees suitable for the most challenging situations. Trees are lifted strictly to order so they arrive with the customer ‘nursery fresh’. Out of season, trees are supplied air potted to maintain continuity of supply.
The container sites produce annually in excess of 800,000 shrubs and perennials, from 2L to 25L+. Outside of this range, the success of large schemes is guaranteed through planned contact growing. The range of stock can be seen at the the 6 acre Cash and Carry – a ‘one stop shop’, situated one mile north of Southport on the A565 where customers can hand select their plants.
Tel: 01704 228235
Fax: 01704 225891
sales@jajones.co.uk
www.jajones.co.uk
Johnsons of Whixley will be showing their new retail plant ranges at Four Oaks. Under the umbrella brand of The Plantsman, the nursery will exhibit: the Prestige Range for large specimen 10L plants, grown for instant impact in the garden; and Patio Perfect, specimen 5L and 7L plants, creating an immediate impression on the patio.
The Plantsman is an experienced horticulturist who is one of a dedicated team nurturing the plants from cutting to saleable specimens. The plants are pre-labelled with The Plantsman branding, endorsing their quality and hardiness, providing confidence for the end-customer. Over 95% of the plants are grown in the Vale of York, providing hardy plants accustomed to the British climate.
Tel: 01423 330234
Fax: 01423 331085
gcsales@nurserymen.co.uk
www.nurserymen.co.uk
Contact: Mark Reynard
Ball Colegrave is a leading wholesale distributors of seed and plants to commercial growers and local authorities. This year they will launch ‘some of the most innovative new products ever seen in the ornamental bedding industry’.
Tel: +44 (0)1295 811833
Fax: +44 (0)1295 812135
order@ballcolegrave.com
www.ballcolegrave.co.uk
Melcourt will be re-launching the Melcourt Sylvamix Range of professional peat-free growing media at the show.
‘For too long UK growers have felt that to grow without peat meant to compromise on quality and price’ says Melcourt’s Technical Director Catherine Dawson, ‘but the Sylvamix Range enables growers to produce consistently excellent plants at an extremely cost-effective price.’
Melcourt are specialists in the supply of bark products for UK growers and growing media manufacturers. Well into their second decade of exhibiting at Four Oaks and showing the matchless Growers Range of bark-based ingredients. Visit stand E149 to see and feel the superb quality for yourself.
Tel: 01666 502711
Fax: 01666 504398
mail@melcourt.co.uk
www.melcourt.co.uk
Laurica Plants is a specialist Bay Tree nursery which sells to wholesalers throughout Europe. The company carries large stocks of superior quality uniform plants in a wide range of shapes and sizes . All trees carry a certificate which is the guarantee of a top quality product with a service to match.
In addition to the standard shapes – Crowns, Pyramids, Columns and Balls, Laurica Plants is one of only a few companies to offer the diverse shapes which include twisted trunks, column – trunk – ball, columns on trunk, imperial crown and plaited trunk.
Laurica Plants also hires out laurels nationally and internationally and takes care of the transport, so the trees will always survive the trip.
Tel: 0032 50 81 17 43
Fax: 0032 50 81 40 03
info@laurica.be
www.laurica.be
Contact: Elie Devisch / Marian Maenhoudt
Poppelaars Nurseries produces a wide range of high-quality hedging and forestry plants for the amenity market. Specialities are: Buxus sempervirens Carpinus betulus Fagus sylvatica Taxus baccata Large quantities of uniform stock available with short delivery times.
Contact: Hans Poppelaars
Tel: +31 765 972254
Fax: +31 765 972314
info@poppelaarsbv.nl
www.poppelaarsbv.nl
Contact: Hans Poppelaars
Nursery de Limieten has over 30 years of experience in growing garden classics such as yews, box, holly, beech and hornbeam in the form of hedgerow elements or specimens. Our product range is complemented by a broad range of espaliers and topiaries.
They will show varieties of specimen trees, mature plants and instant hedging material Ilex, Taxus, Carpinus and Buxus cloud-hedging.
Tel +31 35 69 54 302
Fax + 31 35 69 53 399
sales@limieten.nl
www.limieten.nl
Contact Wim Takkebos