The list of cancelled and postponed events continues. The Local Inspiration Days in Holambra, Brazil are cancelled for this year, RHS in the UK cancels their major shows, KIFE in China is postponed to November and Plant Producers Conference 2020 in New Zealand has been cancelled.
Local Inspiration Days
Because of the Corona COVID-19 virus and the measures to curb it, the Local Inspiration Days in Holambra, Brazil due in April 3 to 4 will be cancelled, Floricultura announced.
"Health of our visitors and that of our own people is our priority. We have put a lot of time and energy into this, but the situation leaves us no choice. It does not alter the fact we really believe in this concept and event. In 2021 we hope to make it happen!"
Floriculture hopes to welcome you next year at the Local Inspiration days 2021.
RHS shows cancels major shows
Following the UK Government update on 16 March 2020 and ongoing situation with COVID-19, all RHS Shows, Garden Events and school visits will be cancelled with immediate effect until 30 June 2020. RHS Gardens remain open, with a number of increased precautionary measures in place.
With the Government no longer supporting mass gathering events due to the impact on emergency services and heightened actions to encourage social distancing, the following RHS Shows will no longer take place in 2020:
- RHS London Spring Launch & Orchid Show, 7-8 April
- RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show, 17-18 April
- RHS Flower Show Cardiff, 17-19 April
- RHS Malvern Spring Festival, 7–10 May
- RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 19–23 May
- RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, 11–14 June
- RHS Garden Harlow Carr Flower Show, 26-28 June, (although the RHS will investigate if Harlow Carr can be moved into July)
One of the many reasons why these large events cannot be postponed to later in the year is that most of the thousands of plants grown for these shows are chosen because they are at their best in spring.
The four RHS Gardens – RHS Garden Wisley, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, RHS Garden Harlow Carr and RHS Garden Rosemoor – remain open. However all Garden events and school visits are cancelled with immediate effect until 30 June.
RHS Libraries at Vincent Square, RHS Garden Wisley and RHS Garden Harlow Carr will all close from 18 March.
Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, says: “Our RHS Shows are vitally important platforms for the horticultural industry, and we are especially aware of the impact of cancelling these events on everyone involved. We will be doing all we can to help growers and nurseries to sell the plants they will have grown for the cancelled shows.”
KIFE postponed to November
To prevent the spread of Novel coronavirus pneumonia, Kunming has scaled up the response to major public health emergencies to Level 1. According to the ‘Emergency plan for public health emergencies in Yunnan Province’ released by General Office of Yunnan Provincial People's Government, crowd gatherings shall be avoided, and large-scale public activities shall be cancelled.
To protect the health and safety of exhibitors, visitors, partners and all involved in the exhibition as well as under the guidance of the government and relevant authorities, the organization of KIFE has taken the decision to postpone the event which was due to take place 10 – 12 July, 2020.
The 2020 Kunming International Flower Expo of China (KIFE 2020) will be rescheduled to 13 to 15 Nov. 2020. The venue will remain unchanged at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
New Zealand: Plant Producers Conference 2020 cancelled
NZPPI have been forced to cancel the Plant Producers Conference scheduled for late May 2020. "Given the highly unstable Covid-19 pandemic we were unable to guarantee you a venue, speakers, sponsors, and, most importantly, safety for our guests and delegates", the organization shares in a statement. "The conference theme of sustainability – operational, financial and environmental – is still relevant and will continue to be a challenge for our industry. At this stage we are closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation and looking for practical and creative ways to stay in touch and keep you up with industry issues."
The anatomy of a COVID-19 cancellation
Lost in the blizzard of cancellations wrought by the coronavirus is the impact inflicted on the individual snowflake, as Nancy Melekian, chief organizer of the Santa Barbara Orchid Show, can readily attest. For the past four months, Melekian worked on all the last-minute details needed to put this year’s orchid show — the 75th — at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The show — the oldest and biggest orchid show in the country — was scheduled to start last Friday night; Melekian would learn on Wednesday at midnight the show would not be going on. Read the story of this cancelled event in the Santa Barbara Independent.