Groundskeeping Journal Issue 4 2021 | Page 23

EVENTS
Importantly , there is also a keen desire among commercial partners and industry professionals to provide an event that enables the industry to move forward and begin the process of rebuilding so many key relationships that have been eroded through the distance imposed by the coronavirus pandemic .
BTME , BIGGA ’ s annual trade exhibition that was due to be held in January 2021 , has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the Association remains proud that the event ’ s spiritual home , the Harrogate Convention Centre , continues to be utilised as an NHS Nightingale Hospital .
BIGGA ’ s world-renowned education programme , Continue to Learn , has moved to an entirely-online format and will be held across two weeks during January 2021 . More information can be found on the BIGGA website .
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said : “ I ’ m excited that BIGGA is finally able to launch the
Festival of Turf to the industry and bring some much-needed hope for a brighter future . The Festival of Turf is a hugely welcome opportunity to reunite our industry , which will have been forcibly separated by the global pandemic for nearly 18 months by the time this event takes place .
“ The industry has survived brilliantly despite all the challenges it has faced , due in no small part to the resilience and adaptability of BIGGA members and the network of commercial partners and who have supported us all throughout the pandemic . There has been a clear groundswell of opinion that members , other turf professionals and commercial supporters want the opportunity to celebrate our achievements and put this whole terrible ordeal behind us – and that ’ s where the Festival of Turf comes in . The event will be an opportunity to reconnect at a time when personal connections have never been more vital .”
For more information about the Festival of Turf , head to the BIGGA website , www . bigga . co . uk
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | Spring 2021 23