eFIG members celebrate their achievements

Last Friday evening, 16^th March eFIG members celebrated their achievements over the past year at their annual Awards Gala Dinner at 76 Portland Place, London.

Fifty interior landscaping schemes and the members who designed and installed or maintain them were recognised with the Awards presented by eFIG’s chairman Kenneth Freeman of Ambius.

Lifetime Achievement

The pinnacle of the Awards was the Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to a surprised Ralph Zwetsloot of Koberg BV for his services to the industry. Ralph who began his career in farming and veterinary practice, soon discovered his passion for plants and flowers. After starting nurseries in both Switzerland and the UK’s Lake District and supplying the cut flower trade, Ralph returned to Holland where he worked for a supplier to the interior landscape industry.

Twenty four years ago Ralph purchased Koberg BV and has grown and developed the company into one of the main suppliers dedicated to supplying the trade in the UK.

Judge’s comments

Of the fifty actual award winning schemes, two of the judges from the independent panel which also included horticultural advisor Nicola Bristow and Gareth Hardware from Hasmead felt the quality this year’s entries worthy of a special mention.

“I thought the overall standard was exceptional this year,” commented Stephen Harmer of Hadlow College. This was confirmed by Greg Redwood of Kew Botanical Gardens, “Either I was lucky and got all the good ones, or the standard is higher than ever – a large number of the sites I visited were literally faultless.”

Four awards also received special commendations from the judges and a 5^th ‘special’ award went to one of the new Special Events category for Indoor Garden Design’s entry for ’James May’s Manlab’ – the first ever eFIG Award for Sanitary Ware’!

Ceremony theme

The ceremony took place at 76 Portland Place in London where members enjoyed a Mad Hatter’s Party. Members immersed themselves in the theme by making and wearing hats and bringing table centres for which the best were awarded spot prizes.

Best hat: John Wilkes of Europlanters who won a bottle of champagne for his potted plant hat

Best table centre: Urban Planters and Ambius who both won a bottle of Champagne

The benefits of interior landscaping

Recognising the excellence of interior landscaping especially in a financial climate that sees fit to dispose of the plants as a perceived easy cost-saving factor is more important than ever.

Interior planting is a way of ensuring those trapped in offices and other workplaces, putting in long hours with little chance to spend time outdoors get to enjoy nature and its benefits.

Evidence from bodies of research confirms that plants help to keep the workforce healthy and more productive.

Charity collection

A collection was made to support the Greenfingers charity and The Food Chain at the dinner when £164 was raised. A cheque will be presented to the charities at a later date.

We would like to thanks our sponsors Koberg BV and Nieuwkoop-Europe BV for their support.

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