APF 2022 DECLARED THE BEST YET

Hot sun and dry weather welcomed a record 23000 visitors and 300 exhibitors  to APF 2022 which took place on the 22-24^th September at Ragley Estate, Alcester, Warks.

Visitors flocked through the gates full of excitement and anticipation after the four year wait since APF 2018 caused by the pandemic.  Exhibitors were delighted with the attendance and reported excellent sales with one saying they took over £3 million of orders over the three days.

The new traffic management system worked perfectly and visitors commented on the ease of getting both in and out of the show, despite the record numbers.

Over £80 million of machinery was on show during the event and much of it had ‘Sold’ stickers on it when it left.

850 local school children and their teachers,  as well as groups of university students,  were given guided tours to learn all about a modern working woodlands and forests and the possible exciting career opportunities that exist.

Exhibition Secretary Ian Millward commented “We are absolutely delighted at how successful the show was.  We have been deluged with emails and comments on social media from both visitors and exhibitors about how good the show was and how much people enjoyed it.  It makes it all worthwhile.   It is a huge credit to our team of staff and contractors, many of whom were new to the show, that they come together for the first time in 4 years and put on a show of this scale, complexity and quality.   People cannot believe that the APF show has no full time employees, just a team passionate about the forest and arb industries.  I would like to offer our thanks to all our sponsors who enabled to stage so many events and competiitions”

New features such as the UK open tree climbing and British Open fencing Championships attracted big crowds.  The World Poleclimbing and European Chainsaw Carving Championships continued to be big crowd pleasers with one carving attracting a show record of £5500 at auction.

Speaking about the British Open Fencing Championships, Stuart Mills From McVeigh commented

“We are really pleased with how the competition went, all who took part have thanked us and are now billing it as the premier event in the fencing calendar, it was very well attended and I’m very confident that the next one will prove to be an even bigger success. Big thanks to yourself and Jem for all your help getting this new event off the ground, very much appreciated”

RESULTS:

British Open Fencing Championships sponsored by McVeigh Parker

Winners.

1^st          John Morgan of Morgan Fencing & Si Gibbs of HVB

2^nd         Peter Redgwell of PDR Fencing & SRM Fencing

3^rd         Nick Quan & Mark Evans

OTHER RESULTS:

European Chainsaw Carving Championships sponsored by A W Jenkinson and Tilhill

1^st           Will Lee – Dragon Fly Bench

2^nd          Sam Bowsher – Roebuck

3^rd           Ant Beetlestone – Pumpkin scarecrow

Carvers Choice                     Sam Bowsher

Husqvarna World 25m Poleclimbing Championships

Expert Class

1^st           Dan Whelan          9.02 s

2^nd          Luke Towler          11.98s

3^rd           Lewis Bennett       13.31s

Ladies Class

1^st           Emma Cakebread   16.29s

2^nd          Lois Milburn          16.95s

3^rd           Chloe Barnard        19.97s

Tree Surgeon Class

1^st           Sam Smith            16.03s

2^nd          John Schindler       16.11s

3^rd           Pip Whitaker         17.77s

Best Senior Climber

Robert Jones

Best Beginner Climb

Joseph Keogan

Alan Cobb Memorial Trophy For Best Stand at APF 2022

Forst Woodchippers

Dates and location for APF 2024 are to be announced shortly

For more information contact APF Exhibition Email: info@apfexhibition.co.uk.  Tel: 01428 723545 Website www.apfexhibition.co.uk