The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and show organiser, Brintex, have confirmed that nearly 1,000 visitors attended its inaugural BALI Landscaping Show which was held earlier this month (21 and 22 June) at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.
Initial feedback from the show has been universally positive, with visitors approving wholeheartedly of the return of a BALI-led show, its June timing and the mix of exhibitors.
The two day show featured a comprehensive seminar programme, put together by BALI national chairman Paul Cowell, which included the launch of the new Landbased Industry Skills Scheme (LISS) and the LISS/CSCS skills card, which gives those working in the landbased sector the ability to work on Highways Agency estate and construction sites.
BALI also held an ‘open house’ at its headquarters throughout the show, encouraging visitors to meet BALI staff, network and generally see what the Association gets up to on a day-to-day basis.
In addition visitors were able to see demonstrations from Ransomes Jacobsen, Bartlett Tree Experts and Platipus Anchors, and catch a glimpse of TV presenter Tommy Walsh as he visited the show.
The new show ran at the same time as PlayFair 2011, the UK’s only national trade event for all those involved in the selection, purchase, upkeep and replacement of children’s play equipment. As the organisers hoped, the proximity of the two shows created a cross-fertilisation of interest for many visitors which will be built upon next year when the two shows are located side by side.
BALI’s recently appointed chief operations officer, Wayne Grills, commented, “To receive such unanimous positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors is amazing and a credit to Brintex and to everyone in the BALI Landscape House team.
“Small but perfectly formed seems to be the best description for BALI 2011 and it’s a salutary lesson that big is not always beautiful where industry exhibitions are concerned. That said, we must listen carefully to our exhibitors and visitors to ensure we strike just the right balance in 2012 and continue to deliver a targeted exhibition and programme of seminars that will make it an unmissable event for landscape professionals.”
Event director Ray Baxter of Brintex said, “We are delighted with the launch of the BALI Landscaping exhibition. In BALI we have an excellent trade association partner and we feel that we have now laid the foundation to expand the BALI exhibition into a major national landscape trade event.”
Next year’s dates for the show have been confirmed as Tuesday, 19 and Wednesday, 20 June.
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