Midlands AGM Event

On the day:

10.00am – 10.30am: Arrival & Refreshments
10.30am – 11.30am: Midlands Region AGM – Wayne Grills, CEO, BALI
11.30am – 12.00: From Mother Stock to the Wonderful Practice of Propagating New Plants: Virtual Tour of the Bakers Propagation House – Nerys Arch, Propagation Manager - Boningale Nurseries
12.00pm – 12.15pm: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Perennial and Never Asked – Phil Swainston, Perennial
12.15pm – 1.00pm: Lunch
1.00pm – 1.30pm: Mini RIBA-approved CPD: The importance of Correct Specification of Natural Stone in Landscaping - Ellie Batchelor, Sales Director - Stoneworld
1.30pm – 2.00pm: Engineered Strength Meets Living Resilience Chris Metcalf-Smith, Sales Director - GeoGrow
2.00pm – 3.00pm: National Cold War Exhibition - Museum Tour
3.00pm: Finish
 

Details:

The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands

The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands in Cosford is home to more than 70 remarkable aircraft, from the legendary Spitfire and mighty Vulcan bomber to sleek Cold War jets, the museum brings Britain’s aviation story to life. Step inside vast themed hangars packed with interactive exhibits, inspiring personal stories and hands-on activities. Try flight simulators and get up close to icons of the skies.

The National Cold War Exhibition

This exhibition aims to inform and educate present and future generations about the immense threat posed to world peace and security during the Cold War.  This exhibition tells the story beyond aviation, highlighting the social history of the era, as well as technological achievements which evolved from the competition between East and West, through to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Boningale Nurseries

Boningale Nurseries, based in the Midlands, is one of the UK’s largest suppliers to the horticulture industry, built on a reputation for quality, reliability, and service. Over the past three years the business has undergone significant transformation - refining its structure, strengthening its UK production, and positioning itself to deliver a greater range, efficiencies, and consistency for its customers.

Today the business features three complementary brands: Boningale Nurseries, Viridis Plants and Bakers Nursery - each playing a distinct but connected role.

At the heart of that structure sits Bakers Nursery, Boningale’s in-house propagation unit. Expertly led by Nerys Arch and her experienced team, this is where circa eight hundred thousand young plants begin their life with precise, technical work - producing consistent, high-quality plugs and liners across an impressively broad range of species.

Nerys will share a virtual tour of the Bakers propagation house, from mother stock to the wonderful practice of propagating new plants.

Nerys Arch

Nerys Arch, Propagation Manager at Bakers Nursery part of the Boningale group passion for horticulture began during a two-year YTS placement at Bodnant Garden Nurseries, where she developed a strong foundation in nursery production and plant care. Going on to complete a Diploma in Hardy Nursery Stock at Pershore College of Horticulture, further strengthening her technical knowledge and practical expertise.

In 1993, Nerys joined Boningale Nurseries as a student and gained hands-on experience across all aspects of the business, including tree lifting, despatch, and the full range of growing departments. This broad operational exposure provided a deep understanding of commercial nursery production from propagation through to supply.

In 2000, Nerys took on full responsibility for the Propagation Department, leading its development and operational management. In 2007, she implemented the company’s Environmental Management System and successfully achieved ISO 14001: 2015 certification, embedding sustainable practices throughout the business whilst demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

In 2021, the business continued to expand outgrowing the original propagation facilities, leading to the planning and development of a new, purpose-built propagation unit at The Bridge site, Codsall. This project increased the company’s capacity, improved workflow efficiencies, further supporting the company’s continued growth and production capabilities.

Stoneworld

Stoneworld is a UK-based natural stone supplier and fabricator serving landscapers, contractors, and builders nationwide. 

With in-house quarrying and modern CNC machinery, the business manages the full process from block selection to finished product. This hands-on control ensures consistency, accuracy, and dependable turnaround times. 

Whether it is paving, pool copings, steps, or bespoke masonry, Stoneworld focuses on doing the fundamentals properly and delivering stone that performs on site. 

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, the mini RIBA-approved CPD shares valuable knowledge on how to correctly specify exterior stone, covering:

• Suitability of stone
• Purpose of Stone
• Thickness of Stone
• Porosity of Stone
• Methods of Stone Carving and Masonry
• Technical Data Sheets
• Slip resistance and safety considerations and developments in Stone Care and cleaning

The talk will include case studies and valuable insight from experts in stone.

Ellie Batchelor

Ellie is the Sales Director at Stoneworld Group, a family-run stone business working closely with landscapers and contractors across the UK. 

She leads the commercial side of the company, with a focus on practical communication, realistic expectations, and strong working relationships with trades on the ground. 

Ellie speaks about the realities of stone supply, what goes on projects, how to avoid common specification mistakes, and how suppliers and installers can work better together. Her approach is straightforward, experience-led, and rooted in how projects actually run on site. 

Geogrow

GeoGrow are specialists in geotechnical engineered solutions for erosion control and earth retention, providing green solutions for construction and landscaping infrastructure projects.

As the manufacturer, designer, and installer of the Rootlok Vegetated Wall System, we provide a green solution that reinforces facing walls and slopes for both land and water applications. Not only does this system enhance the natural environment, but it also promotes real biodiversity net gains. At GeoGrow, we offer a comprehensive supply, design, and installation service that is tailored to meet your specific needs.

Alongside this, GeoGrow provide a hydroseeding and environmental spray-on service, offering green solutions for addressing the persistent environmental challenges of erosion, odour, land reclamation, waste cover and seeding. Utilising the hydroseeding process, we deliver fast and cost-effective erosion control and vegetation for various types of applications such as large open spaces, steep slopes, landfill and waterways. Our service also incorporates Organix biotic soil amendment, an ideal technique for replenishing nutrients in depleted soils, eliminating the need for importing excessive amounts of topsoil material.

We take pride in being a contractor that offers environmentally friendly products and services, advocating for a more sustainable approach to infrastructure development.

Chris Metcalf-Smith

Chris Metcalf Smith is an experienced and commercially driven sales professional with over a decade of specialist expertise in geotechnics, soil stabilisation, and civil engineering products. Currently serving as Sales Director at GeoGrow, Chris leads the company's sales strategy with a focus on sustainable growth, key account development, and delivering innovative ground engineering solutions to clients across the sector.

Exploring the growing case for green structures as a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional hard concrete solutions. As the construction and civil engineering sectors face increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints and meet tightening environmental standards, green infrastructure offers a compelling answer. Delivering proven performance while working with nature rather than against it. Explore how green structures can match and often exceed the functional demands of conventional concrete and hard engineering, while offering significant benefits in biodiversity, drainage, aesthetics, and long-term cost efficiency.

Perennial

Perennial helps anyone who creates or maintains gardens, parks, sports facilities and other green spaces. If you work with plants, trees or grass, Perennial is your charity and can help you if you need support. Everyone working in or retired from horticulture can receive our free and confidential tailored one-to-one advice, support and financial assistance for as long as extra support is needed.

Perennial’s friendly, experienced and professional team helps individuals and their families as they deal with life-changing events such as serious injury, long-term illness, family bereavement, redundancy or family breakdown. We want everyone who works in horticulture to know that help is here if they need it and that no problem is too large or small.