South Thames AGM Event

Join the South Thames region for their AGM event at The Glasshouse Collective, giving delegates opportunity to explore the showcase of luxury outdoor products and services.

On the day the afternoon will provide a fantastic networking opportunity whilst providing the chance to listen to speakers Jake Catling and Sam Grayson from Hyphae Learning and Mark Gregory and Richard McKenna from Landform Consultants and Provender Nurseries, respectively, talking about Plant Healthy Certification Scheme.

Schedule

1.00pm – 1.45pm - Arrival & Lunch

1.45pm – 2.45pm – AGM, CEO Wayne Grills BALI Update

2.45pm – 3.15pm – Break & Networking

3.15pm – 4.00pm – What a focus on our people can do for performance? -  Jake Catling & Sam Grayson, Hyphae Learning

4.00pm – 4.30pm – Plant Healthy Certification Scheme: Mark Gregory, Managing Director – Landform Consultants & Richard McKenna, Provender Nurseries

Details

Guest Speakers – Jake Catling & Sam Grayson, Hyphae Learning:

Sam will share his thought-provoking view on what a focus on team well-being can do for our performance. After this session we will have a chance to have a behind-the-scenes look at the new digital platform transforming how the industry develops its people.

Hyphae learning

Hyphae Learning is a digital learning partner providing the structure for landscaping businesses to build a solid foundation for their team and business growth.

Our platform boosts retention and engagement through practical, scenario-based learning that fits into a real working day.

We work across the sector—helping companies 'Skill Scan' new talent and get new hires "work-ready," while partnering with training providers to transform technical knowledge into engaging, work-relevant experiences.

By narrowing the gap between education and the field, we provide the resources and the system to deploy training quickly, turning skill gaps into strengths.

Guest Speakers - Mark Gregory & Richard McKenna: Plant healthy Certification Scheme

Plant Healthy Certification Scheme:

• To counter the threat from plant pests, Defra’s Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain (2014) proposed the development of certification schemes to improve biosecurity in the UK horticultural sector.
• The Plant Healthy Certification Scheme was developed with the aims of:
• reducing the risk of introducing / spreading destructive plant pests via plant supply chains (trade)
• Protecting the horticulture industry, other cultivated plants and natural habitats
• To easily identify businesses or organisations that grow, trade and manage plants to high standards of plant health and biosecurity 

Landform Consultants

Landform Consultants are the first landscaping company who have been committed to this form of accreditation since October 2024. As a company we felt it was our duty within the industry to become accredited, demonstrating our responsibility and commitment in ensuring quality control measures are in place for our plants whilst strengthening our relationship with the nurseries that we work with and demonstrating our ability in providing quality plants for our clients.

Landform is an award-winning landscape company, creating high quality gardens and landscapes through the UK. We offer a range of specialist services in design, construction, planting and maintenance for private, public and commercial spaces. We are client focused, proactive and professional, committed to producing and maintaining high calibre schemes.

Mark Gregory

Mark Gregory is the Managing Director and owner of Landform Consultants, an award winning landscape design, build and maintenance company working on high end residential and commercial projects. Mark is a twenty-five times Gold medal winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and has won numerous industry awards for projects in London and the South East. His dynamic approach, energy and experience have given him a reputation for innovation and technical expertise within the landscaping community.

As well as heading-up Landform, Mark established a Landform Initiative – The Glasshouse Collective, a curated outdoor living space whereby more than 20 high end brands across the landscaping and garden design industry, showcase the latest trends in outdoor living and innovation. Mark is incredibly active in the Landscaping and Horticultural industries. He lectures all over the country delivering workshops and seminars for the Society of Garden Designers, BALI and APL and is regularly consulted by other designers and contractors. Mark is also the first Perennial ambassador, raising awareness of Perennial within the horticulture industry, using his expertise and networking skills to promote the work the charity does within the sector.

Mark is a member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and has been a past Chairman of the APL. Mark is a regular RHS Judge and Assessor, and a former member of the Chelsea Gardens Panel.

Provender Nurseries

Provender Nurseries became one of the first wholesale plant suppliers to the trade to become Plant Healthy certificated in February 2021. 

Although Plant Healthy certification is not mandatory undertaking the application, processes and annual review shows good practices to our suppliers and customers alike. 

Being Plant Healthy certificated builds Provender Nurseries’ standing in the industry as a forward-thinking plant supplier and helps to build relations when reaching out to customers in particular companies supplying the public sector.  

All team members at Provender Nurseries work closely together to share responsibilities and knowledge for biosecurity and plant health from directors to purchasers to nursery.  All of our team members on site undertake annual training in order to keep up to date.

Sourcing from Provender Nurseries gives landscapers, designers and landscape architects confidence and to be secure in the knowledge that plants are supplied due to our stringent biosecurity practices. 

Provender Nurseries Plant Healthy

Richard McKenna

Richard McKenna has well over 20 years of experience in the horticulture industry. 

As Managing Director of Provender Nurseries since 2003, Richard has established the wholesale plant cash and carry and sundries supplier as a leader in the South East with a heavy emphasis on biosecurity and plant health on site and beyond. 

Richard’ vast plant knowledge covers many aspects of the industry and particularly enjoys building relationships and visiting suppliers.