Fifteen Years and Counting

efig, the European Federation of Interior Landscape Groups is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The organisation was formed to offer one voice to speak for the interior landscaping industry as a whole and to promote the many benefits of plants to the working public in particular.

Celebrations will begin for the anniversary at their annual awards dinner on 22nd April.

It is always a good start when either the company you work closely with or new companies who tender for jobs come with ready-made credentials. The awards are independently judged and are awarded in a similar manner to those at the Chelsea Flower Show.

How efig got started

A group of interior landscape businesses put their heads together to form the association. This was prompted by a furore around the fit-out costs of Portcullis House including the 12 large Ficus trees installed in the atrium.

The cost of the trees was considered astronomical and the trees were seen as purely decorative for the MP's new home. A case of government over-spending for their own. Several spoke out about the benefits the trees offered.

This was the incentive that informed the group to form efig to speak out in future cases like this.

efig's Chairman Ian Drummond of Indoor Garden Design explains, "We needed an official body to speak out in defence of our industry and to educate the business community and others.

" I, like many of my industry colleagues, have been involved since the beginning. 

"At least now there is much more concern about surrounding ourselves with nature with many outside of the industry championing this for health reasons."

12 years later

Almost 12 years later to the day, the murmurings about the cost of these trees cropped up again.

With cuts rife and the word austerity at the top of everyone's mind, the annual rental of these huge trees was seen as a government extravagance.

Chairman at the time, Kenneth Freeman of Ambius wrote letters and appeared on Radio 4 and BBC2 in discussions to explain the importance of the trees in that location.

He finally succeeded by meeting the Government Estates Department and sending a full report to them. The trees remained and a better deal was negotiated for the landscaper involved.

Over the years they have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of our need for plants both inside and outside. This has meant responding to government and the media when plants have not been recognised for their many qualities beyond pure aesthetics.

With recent news about the quality of indoor air 'killing' us, it seems there is still work to be done which is where efig comes in. 

"A strong trade association working constantly to promote the benefits of plants in the working environment is essential," comments vice chair Chris Jenkin of Enterprise Plants.

"With the recognition of our need to connect with nature, otherwise known as biophilia, for our physical and mental wellbeing, we are confident that this is the way forward. efig will certainly be striving to send this message to business leaders and the wider community in the future."