Ken gets about all over the country during his working week; attending meetings, trade fairs, BBC programmes, meeting clients and giving talks to both schools and clubs. These are some pictures from his working week.

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Gardening Media Award (December 2009).

Ken Crowther wins the "Local Radio Gardening Broadcast of the Year" award on 3rd December 2009 at the highly prestigious Garden Media Guild. 'Gardening Plus' is produced by Renee Hockley-Byam and studio produced by Tim Gillett with support from Annie Blake. Ken and his team saw off really strong competition from the rest of Local Radio across the UK with the judges praising Ken's presentation style and the multi- textured style of the programme.

Many congratulations on your award from the Garden Media Guild. Nice photo too. Dr D.G. Hessayon, author and botanist

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Playing with rifles (October 2009).

Ken's been down to his son Oliver's barracks in Devon where the Commando Engineers are based, to play on their rifle ranges. Yes he got a bullseye!

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Thompson & Morgan Seeds Press Conference (July 2009).

Ken attended the Press Conference at Thompson & Morgan Seeds at Ipswich prior to their open weekend on 1st/2nd August. Interviewing Managing Director of Young Plants in front of an 18 foot high pyramid constructed from pouches planted with Busy Lizzys.

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Potato Planting (May 2009).

Ken with Ian Wyatt, presenter of the Saturday Breakfast Show at BBC Essex, competing to see which of them can grow the best potatoes. Watch this space for the answer!

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Where do you think Ken was for this photo? (March 2009).

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Shotgate Gardening Club, near Wickford (February 2009).

Ken is in constant demand to give talks to clubs and is often booked a year ahead. Here Ken is giving a talk about 'Winter Colour' to Shotgate Gardening Club, near Wickford. Members were eager to buy some of the many plants that Ken had taken along to talk about.

Ken also recently visited the South Essex 50+ Club in Billericay to give a talk on 'Working as a Gardening Presenter'. The talk was very well received with feedback to the Chairman, Harold Hill, praising Ken's professionalism, personality and presentation! He also commented that Ken managed to hold the members attention throughout and had them all leaving the meeting with a smile on their face.

If you are interested in booking Ken for a talk at your own club just get in touch.

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To remind us of February.

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Ken meets John Denham, Secretary of State, at Capel Manor College (February 2009)

Ken had the chance to represent his industry at senior level of government recently. As a member of the Board at Capel Manor College Enfield, Ken met John Denham, Secretary of State whilst the MP was visiting the college. Denham visited the gardens at Capel Manor which includes the Japanese Garden that Crowthers company built many years ago which you can see in our Display Gardens section. Denham also planted a Clarence House Rose in the garden named after the Queen Mother. Ken felt it was another opportunity to explain to the Minister how important the garden industry is to the economy, particularly in view of the Olympics coming to our area.
Picture left to right: Ken Crowther, Crowther the Garden People, Heather Barrett-Mold, President of the Institute of Horticulture, Nick Evans of Capel Manor College and John Denham, Secretary of State.

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Garden Industry Glory for BBC Essex presenter (October 2008)

Former President of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Ken Crowther was presented with the Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Industry Leaders' Conference dinner held on 21st October at the Crown Plaza Hotel in London.

Ken who presents BBC Essex's weekly programme 'Gardening Plus' and runs Crowther Landscapes was chair of the HTA between 2005 and 2007.

Presenting the Award the current HTA President Andrew Richardson said, "This award is always presented to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to our industry - and this year is no exception. As my immediate predecessor as President of the HTA, Ken presided over many good initiatives from the HTA, including the development of the new style of conferences and the range of masterclasses and workshops, the considerable improvement to our operational standards in the field, and the widening of our agenda to embrace landscapers and designers."

The HTA Pearson Medal has been awarded on an annual basis since it was instigated in 1930 in memorial of the HTA's first General Secretary, Charles Pearson.

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Thomas Willingale School in Loughton (Sept 2008)

Ken loves passing on his gardening knowledge to the younger generation, and over the years has often taken time out to visit schools. His Autumn visit to Thomas Willingale School in Loughton inspired the children to get planting bulbs for next Spring. If you'd like him to visit your school just get in touch!

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