APF 2022 DECLARED THE BEST YET

The feedback I mostly saw on social media was that the food was pretty poor quality and silly prices and people missed the woodland demo area [I may be wrong this is just the impression I got from social media]. But I suppose better to have some sort of show than no show at all. It's hard to drum up the enthuiasm to do it these days but maybe I'm getting older!

Never sampled the food but yes, that’s all I heard complained about. The lack of the woodland demo area changed the entire dynamics of the show. 

The whole 'CONFOR' thing seems something of a closed shop to me - do they ever ask for advice or comments from common tree folk and dealers? Each sunsequent show is always a 'massive success building on the last one!'.  I don't know any of the personalities or people that are involved - it doesn't feel very unified. If the entry could be reduced to £10 would be good... we had a street food set up on a field near me this year - massive choice and good eating for around £10-00 a go. But if running it all has large costs then maybe you have to pass that on - I looked through their company filings but I am shit at accounting and what it all means! 

And it's easy to moan about stuff without bothering to find out the facts behind it.

CONFOR I think owns the APF Ltd Company - chair of that is Ian Duncan - who it's hard not to type cast reading the below. Is it all just a case of 'jobs for the boys'? Watching vids on youtube the 'honourable lord' comes out with the usual practiced political rhetoric. When are we going to have some folk with some honest dirt under their nails making policys!

Appointed a working peer by UK Prime Minister in 2017, Ian is currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.  

Previously Ian was a UK Government Minister, serving in each of the territorial departments (Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) and laterly as Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for international negotiations. Before joining the Government, he spent over a dozen years in Brussels, finally as an MEP. During his time in the European Parliament, Ian sat on the committees responsible for Environment and for Energy (ITRE). He was the Parliament’s chief negotiator on the reform of EU carbon markets and was his group’s chief negotiator on nine pieces of environmental legislation.

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Out of interest is their anyone high up the ranks in CONFOR who is on this forum?

The lack of woodland demo walk was a great shame. There should be more of that, not less. Punters should be able to run machines. As it was, I asked a couple of stands to pick diggers up on the blade so I could look underneath.

“Sorry, mate. Can’t run the engines.”

Vermeer had the right idea. Put on a vizi vest and crack straight on. 

I don't know about best ever show but it certainly seemed like a successful one when I was there. These sorts of shows, especially the agricultural ones, have been struggling recently so it was good to see such a big one still going well.

1 hour ago, Rob D said:

The whole 'CONFOR' thing seems something of a closed shop to me - do they ever ask for advice or comments from common tree folk and dealers? Each sunsequent show is always a 'massive success building on the last one!'.  I don't know any of the personalities or people that are involved - it doesn't feel very unified. If the entry could be reduced to £10 would be good... we had a street food set up on a field near me this year - massive choice and good eating for around £10-00 a go. But if running it all has large costs then maybe you have to pass that on - I looked through their company filings but I am shit at accounting and what it all means! 

 

And it's easy to moan about stuff without bothering to find out the facts behind it.

 

CONFOR I think owns the APF Ltd Company - chair of that is Ian Duncan - who it's hard not to type cast reading the below. Is it all just a case of 'jobs for the boys'? Watching vids on youtube the 'honourable lord' comes out with the usual practiced political rhetoric. When are we going to have some folk with some honest dirt under their nails making policys!

 

Ian Duncan

Lord Duncan of Springbank PhD FGS

Appointed a working peer by UK Prime Minister in 2017, Ian is currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.  

Previously Ian was a UK Government Minister, serving in each of the territorial departments (Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) and laterly as Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for international negotiations. Before joining the Government, he spent over a dozen years in Brussels, finally as an MEP. During his time in the European Parliament, Ian sat on the committees responsible for Environment and for Energy (ITRE). He was the Parliament’s chief negotiator on the reform of EU carbon markets and was his group’s chief negotiator on nine pieces of environmental legislation.

 

 

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Is it me but why is a man with a phd in palenotology running confor I must agree jobs for the boys 

They must think the industry is full of dinosaurs. 

Yep I mean it's making assumptions not backed up with facts - but the organisation seems distanced from those that are on the ground working or the equipment suppliers. Does anyone know anyone at CONFOR as to what they are actually like as people?

Show was ok but that’s about it from me, woodland’s demo was a step backwards and so much emphasis is on big kit and not Arb, I didn’t come away full of enthusiasm as I normally do, that’s probably me getting older and seeing the Same old to a certain extent though. 
 

food I wouldn’t touch as I don’t mind shit and expensive but not together!