I have spent this week up in Harrogate attending BIGGA's BTME exhibition.

As discussed last week, there was also another major machinery exhibition taking place at the same time with LAMMA attracting the crowds in Peterborough. Not being able to be in two places at once, it's very pleasing to report that Chris Biddle was there for us on Wednesday - you can read his assesment and see his pictures in his very welcome return to this newsletter today.

And it really hit home this week just how awkward this scheduling clash can be for industry members. I spoke to several people who really needed to be at both venues - and thus found themselves having to fly around across the country, not being able to devote the full time they'd ideally like to at either show. Which is a real shame because certainly BTME was well worth a couple of days attendance, as by the sounds of things LAMMA was too.

A couple of days maybe being the key phrase here. That's what LAMMA is and indeed what the re-vamped Saltex has become. BTME however is still sticking to the three day format. Well, two and a half really as yesterday it closed at 2.30pm. It really did feel though on Thursday morning that there wasn't many at all rattling around the halls. To be fair BIGGA say there were actually 1606 through the doors which is 10% up on the final day last year. But it is a massive drop-off from the day before when there were 3,330 in.

Three show days is a big commitment for a lot a people - a lot of days away from the workplace, what with set-up and travel days factored in. If visitors knew it was two-day show I'm sure those 1600-odd could've made one of the previous days. Two days certainly seems enough to get round a show of BTME's size.

That's by no way denigrating the show itself. I thought it seemed pretty upbeat and vibrant this year. Lots of exhibitors I spoke to were pleased with the calibre of visitor they had attracted to their stand. First time exhibitors Central Spares for example told me how they were meeting entirely new leads who they hadn't encountered before and were thus delighted with how things had gone.

And for the end-user visitors, the greenkeepers, the host of educational sessions were extremely well-attended and a no-doubt invaluable resource. But these were all completed by the end of day two anyway.

So a good show once again, lots of interesting new product on display, a wonderful opportunity to meet up with colleagues and friends and discuss in person the issues of the day, just maybe a tad too long and with a somewhat unfortunate scheduling clash.