That’s quite a job!

The full job specification can be found by clicking here.

We shall watch this closely to see who is appointed and will then speculate wildly to try and second guess what the appointment will mean for the future of the CPVO and European PVRs.

Visitors to PFE HQ should expect extended journey times in the coming weeks due to a terrible combination of roadworks in our area.

• The A272 is to be closed between Coopers Green and Hadlow Down (about one mile south of our office) for five weeks commencing 26 July. This will result in increased traffic on the local lanes around our offices and makes east-west travel difficult.
• The A26 will have serious delays during roadworks at Eridge Green (two miles south of Tunbridge Wells) for twelve weeks commencing 26 July. We estimate that this could add 15 to 20 minutes to north-south journey times at peak hours.
• Selsfield Road in East Hoathly is to be closed for five weeks from 26 July. This road is our most direct route to/from Crawley, Gatwick Airport and the M23 and often comes up on satnav systems and Google Maps. Please use the A264/A22 instead and allow an extra ten minutes.

If you require advice on travelling to our office, or would rather meet somewhere else, then please contact us.

We were impressed by the new HTA National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park this week. It got a large proportion of the UK’s major growers together under one roof. There seemed a few prominent companies missing, but perhaps they were waiting to see how the first year worked out.

One of the best features was the new plant competition. It was great to see more than 50 entries covering all types of garden plants. A few creases need to be ironed out (why were some Nemesia varieties classed as annuals whilst others were classed as perennials? Surely it would be better to have a “patio and bedding” class instead) but overall our impression was positive. We’ll be looking to support this further in coming years.

This year, five PFE-managed varieties were in the competition. It is a reflection of the quality of output from our breeders that four of these plants were given awards:

• Nemesia Framboise (bred by Martine Tellwright) – GOLD
• Leucanthemum Real Galaxy (Richard Read and Keith Lintott) – SILVER
• Geum Totally Tangerine (Tim Crowther) – BRONZE
• Nemesia Mirabelle (Martine Tellwright) – BRONZE

For details on any of these plants, please contact us.

Over the next few days, Graham will be at the Garden Event at West Dean (this Saturday and Sunday) and then the HTA National Plant Show on Tuesday 29 June.

Contact us if you wish to make an appointment to see him.

Graham will be at the Week 24 Flower Trials next week. You’d be silly not to be there! His itinerary looks something like this:

• Tuesday: Hendrik ido Ambacht
• Wednesday: Westland
• Wednesday afternoon: Hillegom
• Thursday morning: Honselersdijk
• Thursday afternoon: Aalsmeer
• Friday morning: Düsseldorf area
• Friday afternoon: Gensingen

If you would like to meet up with Graham, then contact us directly. His diary is very full, but there are a few gaps available for meeting growers and breeders.

The Flower Trials are one of the most most important events in the horticultural world now. Several varieties managed by PFE will be on display there, so be sure to take your camera and notebook!

We have been busy – we have a whole list of new EU Plant Variety Rights granted in the last few weeks:

• Hebe TULLYRASPB – Raspberry Ripple
• Hebe TULLYSTRAW – Strawberries and Cream
• Lavandula stoechas WITH LOVE
• Nemesia FLEURPDBLU – Provencal Dusky Blue
• Nemesia FLEURPDPNK – Provencal Dusky Pink
• Nemesia FLEURRAS – Raspberries and Cream
• Nemesia CONFETTI FROSTED PINK – also known as Jubilee
• Prunella BINSUMDAZ – Summer Daze
• Zantedeschia aethiopica SNOW WHITE

That’s a 100% record – we filed nine applications and all nine were granted, including one variegated plant (which are always more tricky).

If we can help you with your application for EU Plant Variety Rights, contact us today. We offer two services – either full representation service, acting as your agent for trials, licensing, policing, marketing and more or we can simply act as your procedural representative for PVR filing only. Ask us for details.