Eighth International Rock Garden Conference, 2011

[Lesley Cox]

That seems quite a short list? I would have expected there to be a dozen or so. Even at our local NZAGS spring show there are alway at least 8 so that the public gets a really good variety.

[Maggi Young]

I was a little surprsied at the small number of nurseries too Lesley.
All the organisation is in the hands of the AGS so only they could tell us what any rationale for any thing pertaining to the might be.
I do not believe there are any arrangements in place to enable phyto certification for overseas members wishing to take plants home so that may  also be having an effect on the number of nurseries attending. 

Part of the problem for a lot of the nurseries who might have wished to attend the Conference is that the timing clashes with the huge event that is the Harrogate show. This is a major earner for many nurseries of course, not just those selling alpines, so the choice between tens of thousands of customers at Harrogate or a couple of hundred at Nottingham was not a difficult one for them to make. 

[Diane Clement]

Part of the problem for a lot of the nurseries who might have wished to attend the Conference is that the timing clashes with the huge event that is the Harrogate show. This is a major earner for many nurseries of course, not just those selling alpines, so the choice between tens of thousands of customers at Harrogate or a couple of hundred at Nottingham was not a difficult one for them to make. 

To be fair, the date of the International Conference was fixed long before Harrogate announced their Spring show date.  Because Easter is so late this year, Harrogate decided to bring their normal "end of April" date forward, hence the clash of dates.   

[Maggi Young]

I was not apportioning  blame, Diane,  I just stated the facts.  I know at least one major seller who was taken aback by the clash.

[Maggi Young]

Some delegates have still not received their packs in the post  so I will repeat my post from 17th March giving the links to the AGS pages with the bulk of the information :

These links on the AGS website have some information for those attending the Alpines 2011 Conference in Nottingham next month.

Pre-Conference Information for Delegates
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/2011/information/PreConference+Information+for+Delegates/293/


Final Conference Program
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/2011/information/Final+Conference+Program/292/


Workshop Program
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/2011/information/Workshop+Program/294/


How to Get There
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/2011/information/How+to+Get+There/296/
 

There does not seem to be any information for those seeking to know details about the pre-conference tour  but the page where the above links are listed may be updated:
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/2011/information/
 
 

We are aware that some delegates have already begun their journey to Europe so I hope any of you in touch with those folks will be able to pass on this information to them.


Edit: This takes you to a map of the Campus at Nottingham :
http://www.nottinghamconferences.co.uk//pdfs/2009-maps/university-park.pdf  

[Liz Mills]

I know that some of you have been trying to get information from the AGS Centre at Pershore this week and I've just received the following information which might explain the lack of contact. Christine McGregor was away for 3 days at the London Show and Jill, who would normally have replied to you quickly, was forced to take time off to help her mother who was taken ill suddenly.  Jill  posted an automatic 'Out of Office' reply on the e-mail system which I've no doubt some of you received and I'm sure you'll all appreciate that these things happen in the best of systems.

Things should be back to normal now so please contact Pershore again is you want information.

[astragalus]

Maggi, thanks so much for printing all the links.  I haven't received anything in the mail and time's getting short.  Hope it arrives before I leave Friday.

[Maggi Young]

I'll take a photo of the wine order form and send it to you, Anne!
I'll also check to see what else might be missing from the online links that has been sent in the postal pack and get copies of that to you, too.

[Maggi Young]

What seems to be missing from the AGS online info is the list of local restaurants (not hugely important, I would think... I'll get copy of that if anyone is desperate to see it ) and the wine order form for the Saturday conference dinner.

a pdf of that is below.... you can post it (!) or FAX it to  00 44 (0)115 9515018  - quite how the EMCC is going to match the orders to each of us on the day I cannot imagine.

 Wine order from.pdf (431.44 kB - downloaded 83 times.)

[astragalus]

Thank you so much, Maggi.  Will they serve ordinary water, not mineral?  This is a bit new to me.

[Maggi Young]

I assume so, Anne. Frankly, given the difficulties there seems to have been getting the pack out to delegates the return rate for the order form will likely not be very high so unless they envisage a lot of folks dehydrating, there must surely be a fall back plan . 

[Maren]

I would have loved to have come, but unfortunately there is a clash with the show of my own society, the Thames Valley Orchid Society, which takes place on the 9th April in Bourne End, Bucks. Being chairman, I couldn't not really not go. 

[Martinr]

Anne, it is now a legal requirment that they serve you tap water free of charge if you ask when having a meal.

[Maggi Young]

I would have loved to have come, but unfortunately there is a clash with the show of my own society, the Thames Valley Orchid Society, which takes place on the 9th April in Bourne End, Bucks. Being chairman, I couldn't not really not go. 

 Maren, your TVOS show is the week before the Alpines 2011 event. 

[Maren]

Oh Maggi, did I get it wrong again? that means I might be able to get to the show after all. I shall investigate. Thank you.