Anthony Andrews CBE has been appointed President of The Pelargonium and Geranium Society, succeeding Jan Taylor who so ably steered the Society through its first year.

Anthony Andrews is a self employed Specialist Agricultural Consultant who, for some 18 years has focussed on seeds, horticulture and related industries. He is the sole agent in the UK and Eire for Elsner Pac Jungpflanzen of Dresden Germany and was awarded the CBE in 1991 for ‘Services to Agricultural Supply Industry’

Having been involved with the merger process, which saw the two former societies specialising in Pelargoniums and geraniums form The Pelargonium and Geranium Society in 2009, he is enthusiastic about the future for these plants which feature in so many gardens, hanging baskets and window boxes. Anthony will spearhead the Society’s two key objectives in the coming months. The first is to double the membership from just over 500 at present and the second is to raise the image of the plants in the gardening media and by doing this get consistency in the use of the right name.

“I aim to encourage every member to find one new member in the next 12 months which, given that Pelargoniums and hardy geraniums are so widely grown and feature in most gardens, is achievable. PAGS will promote the benefits of membership of a specialist society offering opportunities for keen gardeners to  learn more about these wonderful plants and the way to grow them well.”

“In addition, I shall lead the Society’s campaign to get plants that are Pelargoniums referred to as such, and discouraging the all-embracing use of the term geranium which is so often misleading.”