GLAS revisited: a look back to 2019

A display from GLAS 2019. Photo: Joe Keogh

With GLAS 2020 postponed, Growtrade's latest newsletter will revisit some of the feature stories from GLAS 2019.

Horticulture

15 July 2020

Growtrade’s latest newsletter, scheduled to go out at 2.45pm on Thursday, July 16, would have been the annual Garden Landscape and Amenity Sportsturf (GLAS) trade show special newsletter.

In previous years, the GLAS special newsletter would bring you latest news and features from the GLAS trade show. The GLAS trade show attracts top producers, growers, manufacturers, and key opinion leaders across the horticultural sector in Ireland, as well as the UK and Europe.

In May, the decision was taken by the organisers of GLAS – Mediateam, in partnership with Bord Bia – to postpone the trade show to ensure compliance with all health measures and directives, including the government’s “Roadmap to Recovery”, to safeguard the public during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

There are hopes for an autumn/winter GLAS-style event while a full GLAS event is scheduled for July 2021

GLAS revisited

Thursday’s newsletter is looking back to some feature stories from GLAS 2019. Of course, we will also have some of the latest stories in the trade as well.

Looking back on GLAS 2019, college principal of the Teagasc College of Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, John Mulhern, said the event was well run and in a fantastic location; there was a great turnout by the industry; and it was great showcase for all horticulture suppliers to the trade.

For Teagasc specifically, Mulhern said GLAS 2019 offered them a way to “keep our message out there and showcases our own training and advisory messages – it’s a good opportunity for our staff to network with the industry.”

Reflecting on the current challenges Covid-19 poses Teagasc, Mulhern said “Covid is making us all re-look at our engagement with stakeholders and education is no different. [A] big item for us is blended learning platform engagement from our learners.”

On looking to the future, Mulhern said “it’s a new challenge for us all but we are taking great strides to implement our learning platform through Moodle and Zoom, with targeted practical sessions for our learners in small socially distanced ways. Our staff have trialed two online courses this summer and the feedback is very encouraging.”

If you are not signed up to our Growtrade newsletter, you can do so on our homepage.