J. Parker’s supports young talent in horticulture
One of the UK’s leading gardening retailers, J. Parker’s welcomed 25 members of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) to its production site in Anwick, Lincolnshire, recently, hosting its first-ever in-house event dedicated to the next generation of horticultural professionals.
Attendees Included garden designers, plant growers, business owners and site managers for a full day of networking, education and collaboration.
Hosted at the company’s state-of-the-art production facilities, the event provided a behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s largest gardening wholesale facilities, followed by a line-up of four presentations from thought leaders across the industry.
Chief operating officer Alex Woollard shared insights into the retailer’s heritage and direction, before Helen Waddington from charity Perennial gave a powerful talk on health and wellbeing in the industry, while Wayne Eady from Volmary offered practical cultivation insights drawn from the company’s 100 years of growing experience.
Sarah Want from MorePeople closed the day by exploring recruitment challenges and solutions across horticulture.
The event is part of J. Parker’s growing commitment to supporting young people in horticulture, following its announcement earlier this year that it has become an official sponsor of the YPHA. With over 900 active members, the YPHA was formed in 2020 to unite under-35s in the industry, helping to facilitate collaboration, education and innovation.
This latest event is part of J. Parker’s continuing support for the sector, helping younger people to enter the business and including its work with multiple award-winning garden designers, all under 35, at key RHS garden shows.
Founded in 1933, family-run J. Parker’s is one of the UK’s leading gardening and bulb providers.