The gift was made after The Edible Garden Show’s organisers were moved and inspired by work carried out at Headley Court in the groundbreaking horticultural therapy unit developed to help servicemen returning from conflicts recover their strength, mobility and co-ordination.

Pictured left to right: Staff Sgt Steve Arnold; Claire McKee; Kim Pickney; Rifleman Sam Walpole; Major Peter Le Feuvre; Lance Cpl Joe Qalotaki; Sapper Matt Weston

The unit opened in May last year and is run by Major Peter Le Feuvre, a leading Ministry of Defence physiotherapist, who says that gardening and grow-your-own also helps patients improve their concentration and reduce stress levels.

Major Le Feuvre and members of his team were invited to attend the award-winning Edible Garden Show at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on March 16 to highlight the therapeutic benefits of gardening. He spoke in the show’s Experts Theatre, giving the audience an insight into the role of garden therapy on the rehabilitation of battle injured soldiers.

Bev Channel, Event Director of The Edible Garden Show, said; “Our visitors were awestruck as they listened to Major Le Feuvre and his team talk about the incredibly positive results that horticultural therapy has had on the recovery of injured soldiers. We felt the raised beds, which we had commissioned and planted for the show, were a perfect height to be incorporated into the garden project at Headley Court this season.”

Major Le Feuvre says; “We were delighted with the gift as well as other promises of support we were given by exhibitors at the show. We use the ‘green’ environment to rehabilitate injured troops. Horticultural therapy is as much about the psychological benefits of doing something meaningful and fulfilling – nurturing and growing plants – as it is about the physical benefits of moving around, standing, bending, lifting, carrying and negotiating obstacles.

“It encourages patients to experience different activities which aids the rehabilitation from their injuries. By varying the rehabilitation methods used at Headley Court, we can keep patients stimulated and focused on their goals and road to recovery. One of our guys is wheelchair-bound because of his injuries. He is making great progress with horticultural therapy. Not only has it enabled him to learn new skills, gardening and growing is something he can do with his family. So the result is multifaceted.”

One of the injured servicemen Sapper Matthew Weston (22) who suffered severe injuries while on duty in Afghanistan in 2009 thoroughly enjoys sessions in the horticultural therapy unit. He says; “I like cooking so I am interested in growing fruit and vegetables. It is really relaxing being out here doing something useful.”

His thoughts were echoed by Lance Corporal Joe Qalotaki who was injured in Germany. He says: “My family has a farm in Fiji and we grow capsicums and melons. It is nice to be outside doing something therapeutic like this and gaining strength at the same time.”
Major Le Feuvre says; “These men and woman are soldiers and they like to be outside doing physical work. Many of them have to come to terms with their injuries and there are mental health benefits to the project. It gives them new skills and an opportunity to interact socially.”

•    The Edible Garden Show will be back at Stoneleigh Park from March 15-17th 2013. A one-stop-shop for anyone looking to grab a slice of the ‘Good Life’ it uniquely brings together celebrity gardeners, chefs and innovative exhibitors from the worlds of gardening, home produce and food.

We were nominated for ‘Best Launch Show’ for The Edible Garden Show and although we didn’t walk away with the title we were privaleged to be nominated and enjoyed our trip down to London.

Cick here to watch show highlights

In all, 13,028 people attended the three-day event on 16-18 March (unaudited), up from 10,800 visitors last year. This figure includes 900 tickets set aside for competition winners and exhibitors.

Although the show exceeded its exhibitor targets, it was slightly down on its visitor projections.

The 2012 show expanded across two indoor exhibition halls supported by a large smallholders’ marquee, with 170 exhibitors showcasing innovative equipment and produce linked to the ‘Good Life’ theme.

“This is only our second show but clearly the gardening world has become engaged with The Edible Garden Show and we have now established ourselves as a must-see event for all those people looking for a slice of the Good Life,” said show director Bev Channell.

John Burton-Race at The Edible Garden Show

“We are especially pleased to see the growth in visitor numbers and the very positive response we received from our exhibitors, with many of them already signing up for 2013, when we intend to continue to grow this popular event.”

Among celebrities taking part were TV chefs John Burton Race (pictured) and Rachel Green, who gave cookery demonstrations in the cookery theatre.

“It really is fun, they’re a great crowd here and it is very busy,” said Burton Race.

“It’s good synergy for me because most of the customers grow their own; they’ve got little allotments and smallholdings and raise their own livestock.”

The show will return to Stoneleigh Park from 15 March to March 17 2013.

http://www.exhibitionnews.co.uk/newsdetails/2111/edible-garden-show-visitor-numbers-up-20-per-cent

The visitor numbers for the ‘Grow Your Own’ exhibition from 16 – 18 March smashed the 10,800 total for its launch event last year. It is run by Channell Events and was held at Stoneleigh Park.

This year’s show expanded into two indoor exhibition halls with 170 exhibitors showcasing equipment and produce like fruit and vegetables.

Bev Channell, show director, said: “This is only our second show but clearly the gardening world has become engaged with The Edible Garden Show. We are especially pleased to see the growth in visitor numbers and the very positive response we have received from our exhibitors with many of them already signing up for 2013 when we intend to continue to grow this popular event.”

Celebrity chef John Burton Race, who gave cookery demonstrations at the show, said: “They’re a great crowd here and it is very, very busy. It’s good synergy for me because most of the customers grow their own; they’ve got little allotments and smallholdings and raise their own livestock. The feedback has been wonderful.”

The three-day show will return to Stoneleigh Park next year from 15 – 17 March.

http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/1123030/Edible-Garden-Show-visitors-20/

With a huge roster of fantastic exhibitor names, inspiring feature areas, special guests, supporting associations and sponsors, the stage is set for a fantastic show. With some great marketing underway and fabulous PR for the show, visitor numbers are significantly up on our first year. With an additional hall and bigger livestock marquee and even more to see, do and buy our visitors are set for a great day out at the show! The team are working hard on the final touches and looking forward to a great show.

Watch out on Twitter next week for the latest news and updates – follow us @ChannellEvents

For all the show news and to get tickets visit www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk

The Edible Garden Show returns even bigger this March at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire after it was launched in 2011

Read the full story here

John will take to the stage in the cookery theatre at the show voted the Garden Event of the Year by the public after its launch in 2011. He will be conjuring up a host of mouth-watering treats on all three days of the event when it returns to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from March 16-18.

The cookery theatre at The Edible Garden Show will be sponsored by Kerrygold Butter and Pilgrims Choice Cheese, and John is the Executive Development Chef and Brand Ambassador for both brands. On St Patrick’s Day, Saturday March 17, he will have a special surprise for visitors when he dishes up a number of Irish themed treats. These will include a special Irish 3 course meal – soda bread with Irish salmon, Irish beef and ale pie with a champ top, and Irish stout and chocolate melt in the middle pudding.

The expert chef will also demonstrate how to whip up other fabulous dishes using Kerrygold butter and Pilgrim’s Choice cheese. All his dishes will be supported by deliciously fresh grow-your-own produce.

John Burton-Race says: “I am delighted to be cooking at The Edible Garden Show. Every good chef knows that the quality of your ingredients is the key to creating a fabulous meal. Grow-your-own enthusiasts are already half way there with the wonderful fresh produce they can use, straight from plot to plate.”

Alastair Jackson, Marketing Director of Adam’s Foods, producers of Kerrygold and Pilgrim’s Choice, says: “With a tradition of quality, naturalness and freshness as our key strengths, The Edible Garden Show is obviously a great venue for us to share our passion for good food. It gives us a chance to showcase our products in an exciting setting with John Burton-Race showing people the delicious recipes you can make using Kerrygold and Pilgrims Choice.”

The UK’s only national event dedicated to grow-your-own, promises to be bigger and better this year with a second exhibition hall and a larger animal marquee. Award-winning TV presenter James Wong who proved a great hit with the 11,000 visitors at The Edible Garden Show’s launch event with his inspiring talks on incredible edibles will be back encouraging grow your own enthusiasts – whether they have an allotment, vegetable plot or just pots on balconies and patios – to ditch the sprouts and be more daring for 2012.

Also sharing their expertise will be celebrity author, TV and radio presenter Pippa Greenwood and The Edible Garden Show’s grow your own guru Paul Peacock.

To purchase tickets to the show, call 0844 338 8001

Technorati Tags: events, jobs, recruiting, sales

For exhibitor or sponsorship information, call the team here at Channell Events on 0845 270 6800

You can visit the show website at www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk to keep updated with show news for 2012

Technorati Tags: Channell Events Team, Consumer Events, edible garden show, event update, grow your own, Marketing, stoneleigh Park, The Edible Garden Show