Richard Lawton and Neville Stein are celebrating a combined 100 years in horticulture this year and both are trustees of horticulture charity Perennial.
They talk about changes in horticulture, challenges facing horticulturists now and the services Perennial offers horticulture in this moving podcast.
Lawton, ex-Hillier, speaks about the challenges of seasonal work, physical injury, isolation and risk of financial hardship for those working in horticulture, and the support Perennial offers those in need and their families.
HortWeek writer and industry consultant Stein tells a moving story of a horticulturist who did not know about Perennial and how it could have saved his llfe.
The speak about industry partnerships and how fundraisers such as Plants for Perennial from Allensmore, Wyevale, Bransford and New Leaf have helped fund the charity's work.
In 2025, Perennial undertook 19,753 preventative activities and programmes and helped 2,445 people with one-to-one services. They claimed 380,645 of benefits they were entitled to and £235,335 of debts were written off, which Perennial support.
Perennial will be at Four Oaks trade show in Cheshire on 2 September, with Perennial director of services Helen Waddington, Garden Centre Association CEO Peter Burks, Grass Gains' Steve Harper (who is a new Perennial ambassador), David Salisbury (Farplants) and Nikki Burton (MD of Melcourt) lin a panel discussion sharing their insights into the impact partnering with Perennial has for their employees, businesses and the wider industry.
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