Riffa Views TV: Episode 24 – You Can Make a Difference

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As nature and the environment are intrinsic values to Riffa Views Signature Estates, sponsoring the Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS) was a logical choice.

Since the initial sponsorship in 2007 Riffa Views and the BIGS Committee have worked closely together to develop the show.

The introduction of leading names, such as Gardening expert and BBC TV Presenter, Chris Beardshaw; the launch of satellite activities, such as the Eden Challenge; the marked appreciation and support for local culture, through the showcase of local Arts and Crafts in 2008 and the Farmers Market in 2009, are just some of the things that worked towards putting BIGS on the gardening show map.

Three years ago Riffa Views made a commitment to work with the BIGS committee to take the show to the next level, for it to be on par with other international shows. Now, three years on, the hard work has paid off and BIGS is on the exhibition calendar as the ‘must see’ Middle East gardening event for experts, exhibitors and enthusiasts alike.

RVBIGS 09′s success reflects well on Bahrain

The Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show 2009 (RVBIGS 09) attracted a record number of people, with well over 22,000 local, regional and international visitors coming through the doors during the three days. This is a number that compares very favourably with the Kingdom’s most popular international sporting event, the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix, which attracts just over 45,000 people on race day.

Many of the exhibitors commented on the great mix of visitors to the Show – a real cross section of the community – age groups and nationalities, local, regional and international. This diversity of audience provided what many described as ‘the special feel to RVBIGS’ and, in the words of exhibitors from South East Asia, gave the Show ‘a cultural dimension that they had not experienced elsewhere.’

RVBIGS 09 proudly displayed exhibits from both near and far – including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, South Africa, Thailand and Taiwan. The diversity and spread of the exhibitors is a key element of the continuing strategy of the BIGS Organising Committee to raise the profile of the Show – the success of this approach being evidenced by the number of organizations returning as a regular exhibitor and those experiencing RVBIGS for the first time.

David Hadfield, Executive Managing Director of one of RVBIGS key sponsors, Hidd Power Company, was very positive about his company’s first involvement in the Show, “We are a new partner to the Garden Show this year and have enjoyed making a contribution to getting the message across of how important water is in our life. We have been enthused by the wide reach that the Garden Show has to all sections of the community and it is great to see an exhibition such as RVBIGS providing the opportunity for so many people to understand more about the environment around them, particularly the younger generation.”

One category of visitor singled out by Hidd Power Company and many of the other exhibitors as a truly important and exciting feature of RVBIGS 09 was the involvement of the younger generation. The overseas exhibitors in particular were overwhelmed by the number of school groups and youngsters visiting the Show and the amount of information and environmentally focused activities that were provided for them.

In providing a platform to highlight the importance of protecting the future of Bahrain, the Show also paid due respect to the Kingdom’s heritage with a number of the exhibits giving insights into Bahrain’s culture and traditional trades and crafts. The Riffa Views Farmers’ Market depicted a typical Bahraini Farmers’ Market, full of ‘home grown’ produce and products. In the words of Nabeel Al Ajimi, representative of all the farmers and tradesmen at the Farmers’ Market, “….through the platform that we were offered at the Show, we were able to showcase the importance of agriculture to the Kingdom. The positive response from people is a sign that local products are of great interest and that the community is willing to support us.”

Ambassador to RVBIGS and Riffa Views’ Ambassador for Landscapes and Gardens, Chris Beardshaw, with his wide-ranging gardening expertise and international show experience, shared his ongoing enthusiasm and admiration for RVBIGS when he commented, “RVBIGS is taking its rightful place on the top level of the international garden and lifestyle show schedule. Each year I return, I am impressed by the developments from the previous year – the range of exhibitors, the number of visitors, but above all, the quality of the stands.”

In presenting the ‘Best Stand of RVBIGS 09’ award to Jannusan Exotics, Chris described the winning stand as being an exhibit “…worthy of any top international show, Chelsea Flower Show included…….and a prime example of how far the Show has developed over the last few years.” He continued ”This stand represents the way this Show needs to go in the future and I have no doubt that other exhibitors will follow their lead and continue to move the Show in the right direction.”

Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views, BIGS title sponsor for the last three years, commented on the ever increasing quality of the event, “I am always impressed by the amount of time and effort that all the exhibitors at RVBIGS, whether big or small, put into making sure their exhibit is displayed to the utmost. This provides a high quality base for the Show that continues to impress year after year and acts as a catalyst for attracting more exhibitors and in turn more visitors.”

He went on to say that “This is our last year of title sponsorship and I must say on behalf of the Riffa Views team, how much pleasure we have got from working with Shaikha Maram Bint Isa Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Director of the BIGS Organising Committee and her team to assist them in growing the Show into what it is today. I think anyone visiting RVBIGS 09 will have come away from it having had a great time and knowing that they had attended a world class event. It is now strong enough to continue to develop through its own momentum.”

Riffa Views Announce 2009 Awards at RVBIGS

Using the backdrop of the Riffa Views Eden Challenge Exhibits Stand, Riffa Views announced the award winners of their competitions around the Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show 2009 (RVBIGS 09) – the Overall Winning School of the Riffa Views Eden Challenge 2009 and the exhibitor with the ‘Best Stand of RVBIGS 09’.

The Overall Winning School of Riffa Views Eden Challenge 2009, chosen from the four category winning entries displayed on the stand and announced by Chris Beardshaw, Riffa Views Ambassador for Landscapes and Gardens, and Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al-Khalifa, Director of the BIGS Organising Committee, was The Khawla Secondary Girls School.

The Khawla Secondary Girls School project presented a Water Conscious Garden. The winning Water Conscious Garden depicts a wide range of the complex possibilities that a designed landscape can offer. Using the Riffa Views Eden Challenge logo as a base, the winning design blends water with drought tolerant plants and synthetic materials to highlight the principles and use of water movement and water conservation.

In making the announcement, Chris Beardshaw commented on how difficult the task of choosing an overall winning school had been, “The standard of all the schools’ entries this year and in particular the four category winners has been tremendously high; to choose a ‘champion of champions’ has been incredibly hard. I am extremely encouraged by the focus that the students placed on environmental issues and delighted that the Riffa Views Eden Challenge has inspired Bahrain’s younger generation to consider the importance of their surroundings. I am very comfortable that the kingdom is heading in the right environmental direction.”

Highlighting the winning entry from The Khawla Secondary Girls School, he said “The Khawla project captured the real spirit of the Eden Challenge through the efforts, enthusiasm and dedication of the students and staff. It demonstrated a diversity of ideas and initiatives around the Show’s theme of ‘Water for Life’ and a capability to be expanded and developed into a wider concept that could truly benefit the island’s community.”

The Principal of The Khawla Secondary Girls School, Mrs Seham Al Kooheji, along with students and supervising teachers from the project team were on the Eden Challenge Exhibits Stand to hear the announcement and were thrilled to go up to receive their trophy and the award of BD3,000 towards the school’s environmental activities.

Mrs Al Kooheji said “We had great faith in our Eden Challenge team and the exceptional work of the students, we are all very proud to have won the competition. We would like to thank Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, wife of the King of Bahrain for her support of the Show and Riffa Views, in particular the Riffa Views Eden Challenge Team, for giving us this opportunity. We want to compete again next year as we believe the competition teaches the students a lot about creativity and teamwork.”

Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views, congratulated not only the winning school, but also the other three category winners and all the schools who took part in this year’s competition. He said “The Eden Challenge has developed far beyond what we envisaged; we are delighted by the number of schools that have taken part and the wonderful job that all the schools have done, as demonstrated by the quality of the four category winners. Well done and a very big thank you to all involved and in particular, The Khawla School for being chosen as the Overall Winner.”

Chris Beardshaw and Shaikha Maram also announced the winners of the Riffa Views’ ‘Best Stand of RVBIGS 09’ awards. Much coveted by all exhibitors, this year’s top award has gone to Jannusan Exotics, who received a trophy and a prize of USD5,000. The 1st Runner-Up was the Bahrain Ministry of Municipalities’ Affairs & Agriculture, who received a trophy and a prize of USD3,000; the 2nd Runner-up was The Riffa Views Farmers Market, who received a trophy and a prize of USD2,000, which Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views confirmed, will be donated to charity.

Jannusan Exotics is a nursery based in Bahrain, supplying plants, trees, pots and other garden decorations from all over the world. Commenting on the winning stand, Chris Beardshaw said, “The Jannusan stand is very innovative in design style and in many ways, presents a ‘brave’ new concept. It displays a non-traditional, very contemporary approach that sets a new benchmark for future exhibits and is very much part of the process by which the Show will continue to develop on the international stage. The winning stand is certainly one that I could see having a rightful place at any of the big shows such as The Chelsea Flower Show.”

Commenting on the award, Richard Browning said “In working with the BIGS Organising Committee, it has always been one of our joint aims to raise the profile of BIGS. Encouraging exhibitors to participate and to participate at an increasingly higher standard of exhibit through an award such as this is an important part of having brought that aim to reality, which is evidenced by the obvious level of expertise and effort that has gone into the stands at this year’s Show.”

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