BEST OF BRITISH BONSAI - May, 2013.

I am assisting Steve Tolley in locating trees for exhibition in the above event. Steve would like to hear from anyone who has a tree (or trees) which they would like to have considered for this most prestigious event in the UK bonsai calendar. Trees must not have been exhibited at this event before. I feel sure that anyone who has visited either of the previous two events are well aware of the high standards required for acceptance. The kudos of having a tree accepted is immense.

Feedback from this year's event was extremely favourable from all quarters and the plans for 2013 are well in hand. Some exciting, new and innovative ideas are in the pipeline to make the next BOBB even better than its forerunners.

The May scheduling will hopefully mean deciduous trees will be more advanced in leafing out, thus extending the scope for these entries.

If you would like to have a tree or trees considered, please contact Steve at [steven.tolley1@virgin.net], preferably attaching a good image (j.peg preferred) of the tree or trees you wish to submit, together with its size. Steve can also supply further information, if required.

Thanks for the heads up. Is there an exact date in May yet? And can we assume it is Birmingham BG again? I have a couple of trees I am working on with a view to submitting but there's no way they will be even photo-ready before the end of this coming summer.

Fiona - the preferred date will be 11th and 12th May. We just need the Botanical Gardens to give us this as a firm and fixed date. The list of trees for exhibition have to be quite fluid and I'm sure that in the whole interim period before the show, Steve will be pleased to receive pix of possible entries. The display is planned by Steve taking into account height and shape of the exhibits. He needs as many trees as possible of the required standard in order to create an harmonious display (and a back-up list of trees of all sizes to replace any that are pulled at the last minute - nightmare!) The more trees he has to choose from, the better the show will be and I'm sure we would all want that. This is the biggest bonsai event in the UK. This year there was an increased number of overseas visitors so it really is our chance to show the world what we can do.

Best regards ... Gwen

Any further news?
The webpage still seems to be in a holding pattern and the dates seem to vary from April to May 2013.

LP&B
Simon

I'll get back to you with the final date. I believe there was some to-ing and fro-ing with the Botanical Gardens on which the date largely depends. Watch this space !

In answer to the above, the date for BOBB 2013 is the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th April, 2013.

geepee wrote:In answer to the above, the date for BOBB 2013 is the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th April, 2013.

Sorry but i dont think it is.

I've been with Steve today and after the tree was loaded i mentioned BOB as I needed to work out the timing/winer lighting to get the deshojo perfect if it was April and he said it is at the NEC, and is part of the Gardeners world live event in June. This sounds like another perfect high profile British venue and event to include our trees at as every day is televised I think by the BBC ! I'm sure official confirmation is coming soon....but to me this sounds like another fantastic event in the pipeline,

fingers crossed

Marcus

Malcolm and Kath Hughes (FOBBS) assured me when I saw them at Newport last weekend that the date of 27/28th April is confirmed.

how odd, because steve said today "why didnt anyone ask Malcom last week - it is nec gardeners world live" ???

gardeners world has the wow factor for sure - and the benefit of many 1000's of plant enthusiasts attending, i hope it is this venue,but as I said.i think we definitely need an official confirmed statement or press release.

All will become clear soon i feel - but my gut feeling is the show is certainly on

cheers Marcus

My conversation with Malcolm was last Sunday, 26th August, so I'm as wise as you Marcus.
Incidentally, if you wish to contact Steve about entering a tree or trees, his email address is:-
steven tolley <stevetolleybonsai@gmail.com>

An email was circulated by Malcolm and Kath today regarding all this speculation. To ensure we do not continue down that route, and as it was addressed to "all interested members of the British bonsai fraternity I am sure they will not mind if the contents of that email are made public as follows:

BEST OF BRITISH BONSAI 2013
Over recent weeks quite a number of rumours have been spreading around the Bonsai circuit re the future of Best of British in 2013.

Malcolm & I would like to make a statement of facts telling you exactly how things stand at present and dispelling rumours of what might or might not be happening.

* Until March of this year, the date for 2013 was to have been May 11th & 12th. Unfortunately however, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B.B.G.) are suffering severe financial problems and Redcliffe Catering, who have the franchise for the Suites at the Gardens, had booked in a wedding for that date that would bring in several thousands in revenue; thus we were out.

* Next we were offered April 27th & 28th. Not quite so good but acceptable. Unfortunately for us, no agreement could be reached for us re. costs. No charge had previously been made re. the hire of halls, but similarly we took no money at the door. However they now need to make money and charges are about to be imposed, but still no revenue at the door for us. We have no backers and no monies to support us, thus the amount of the charges, when decided, are of great concern to us.

* In the meantime the Royal Horticultural Society had staged a highly successful “Gardeners World Live” at the N.E.C. Birmingham this last June, with FoBBS and local Midland Societies as a major feature and provided with a 20 metre by 13 metre space to display in at this event. It proved a great attraction even if it did not catch the attention of Alan Titchmarsh!

This has resulted in considerable interest being shown by the R.H.S. in us staging an even larger display (in this case Best of British Bonsai) at Gardener’s World Live. Now you could not ask for better publicity for Bonsai in the UK than this, BUT - and this is significant, there are implications for us that must be resolved before we go any further:

1. Charges for admission for exhibitors. The event is prestigious and held in conjunction with the very popular ‘Good Food Show’. The entry costs stand at £20.00 which gets you into all Shows at that venue at that time. Fine if you choose to attend, but impossible for exhibitors who must have free access and parking. This applies also to the very loyal team of helpers without whom the whole thing would be impossible. All this amounts to over 100 free passes - a lot to ask, but it depends on how much they want us. It does not actually cost them, because those people would not otherwise be there. TO BE NEGOTIATED.

2. What about Traders? Costs for Trade at the N.E.C. are formidable and not within the scope of most of our people, even if they would have exposure to an audience of many, many thousands. Again TO BE NEGOTIATED but I suspect fraught with problems.

3. There are other issues to be resolved but insignificant in comparison.

We have a meeting planned with the R.H.S. management for the beginning of October and until that date when we see what can be resolved, I have to say “WATCH THIS SPACE”.

If nothing can be resolved with the R.H.S. or B.B.G. then it would seem that ‘Best of British’s’ future could be in jeopardy. However we hope not and are at present optimistic. Please be patient and hold faith with us.

Kath Hughes

I spoke to Steve today and he said that the plan is for it to be at NEC as part of the Gardeners World Live event in June. He said it is, as yet, unconfirmed but there's plenty of time though. No doubt we'll hear more soon, but what a profile raiser that would be. The very best of British Bonsai with a massive audience and probably extensive TV coverage.

Thanks for posting that statement from Kath Hughes, Fiona. You beat me to it.

hi,
Excelent, thanks for the update and fingers crossed.

Mandy and I were just saying a £20 entry ticket to the nec shows is not a lot in this day and age, and is a small price to pay for the pride of exhibiting at such a high profile event. in effect we are all going to enjoy the entire show, so there is no real reason or god given right to free entry in all reality.

Everyone is buzzing off the back of the Welsh event so to have the chance of another higher profile venue and event is briliant - my hat is off to the tireless work put in by the individuals in negotiating such events for our hobby. We all know how many ££££'s we invest in our hobby anyway so to potentially jepordise such an event over £20 entry fee is pointless. When Malcom closed the last show the room was full of pride, i can see it being even greater after this event has been on TV.

Trading spaces are just a considered business choice - you may pay £25 if 30 friends are turning up, £200 if several hundred are expected so proportionaly an audience of 1000's per day, inspired by our trees and itching to buy a bonsai at the show would merit a higher price - again, it is freedom of choice - none of us have a given right to display or trade just because we are part of the hobby. It will probably be the larger established traders that attend as you need the right stock, and enough of it - but smaller traders can easily pair up to be there and split costs ie trees & pots on one stand maybe??

Great news - and again fingers crossed

regards Marcus

In the light of the foregoing, can I (once again) exhort everyone out there in the UK to consider and put forward their trees for Steve's consideration.
The first two BOBBs were a great success, due in large part to the quality of the exhibited trees. There is a limit to the number of trees Steve can see in person and ask to be put forward for consideration. He relies heavily on input from the hobby at large to show him what's out there. Without the best of British bonsai trees there is no Best of British 2013.
Steve can be contacted on:- steven tolley <stevetolleybonsai@gmail.com>
If you have any problems contacting Steve, flag it up on this thread and I'll get on his case !!

Oh well, that's had that for me then - exhibiting and trading - glad I sent my entry to the original email address.
Nice dream while it lasted!!

Regards,
Simon

Why does that present you with a problem, Simon? I bought a pot from you at the Swindon show, so I know your work.

Thanks for the kind words.
For a small business (or in my case an extremely small) stalling out at such a venue would not make financial sense. Even "doubling up" as Marcus suggests it would still be too expensive. I know you can "speculate to accumulate", and with the numbers in attendance sales should be good, but Bonsai is still a very small market - ask the UK nurseries. As for my tree - there was enough pressure (hopefully) being involved in an almost exclusive Bonsai environment, a RHS Show (for me anyway) is another step - maybe too far.

Regards,
Simon

I think it may (and we must bear in mind that we don't know the ins and outs yet so that has to remain a "may") cause problems for people for whom pottery, accent plants etc is a sideline rather than a main business. Marcus had a great idea in an earlier post about doubling/trebling up on a trade stand to share the costs around but even that may be a cost too many.

However, let's see what pans out and put a bit of faith in Kath and Malcolm who are wise enough to know all the implications and take them to the negotiating table. Tell you what though - and she knows me well enough to recognise that I mean this as an extreme compliment - I'd love to be a fly on the wall during those discussions if anyone from RHS or wherever tries to browbeat Kath.

'Browbeat' and 'Kath Hughes' are not words often found in the same sentence, unless of course, Kath is doing it.

Here is the latest update from Kath and Malcolm Hughes concerning the Best of British Bonsai Show next year. I am thrilled that it is actually happening and at such a prestigious event. I encourage anyone who has a tree worthy of exhibiting PLEASE send your details to Steve: stevetolleybonsai@gmail.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday October 3rd we (Malcolm and I) had our long awaited meeting with officials of The Royal Horticultural Society and I can now report - the meeting went well. There are still issues to resolve, but definitely not insurmountable ones; we have most of the things guaranteed that we asked for. In fact they are being extremely helpful and co-operative. We came away feeling that they definitely wanted us.
• I can reassure all potential exhibitors, that there will be for them no admission charges, providing they produce a passport style photo for their passes. Car parking charges I have been assured can be avoided with a little (to be explained later) flexibility.
• Trade tables have yet to be resolved as this is a matter for Haymarket Productions, the site planners and not RHS but we may get some at what could be acceptable prices.
• Stewards and helpers will all have passes, again requiring photos, but no problem.
• To us, FoBBS, represented by Malcolm and myself, it means no serious outlay of money – on the downside it also means no income; but the publicity bonsai gets should more than compensate for that. We have not been guaranteed television coverage but we are on negotiating terms and have the appropriate contacts. I am feeling positive.
• The only serious outlay that we envisage is the making of more backdrops, we do not think enough are available.
• Demonstrations are still to be part of the event; money to pay them is at present not available so we may well be looking for volunteers, up for publicity, but no money.
• Possibility of workshops, if we can - participants to offset costs.

Website worth looking at for information www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com
Dates for your diary


Booking for more than 10 people. Get great offers on group tickets

Tickets include entry to The Good Food Show on at the same time
Queries to Malcolm or Kath Hughes at mkhughes567@btinternet.com
To be fair at the moment we probably won’t have any answers, yet
Tree submissions or queries Steve Tolley stevetolleybonsai@gmail.com

Top work to you both (all).

all is sounding really positive.

cheers Marcus

Still live