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Van den Berk Nurseries has recently signed a sponsorship contract with the European Federation for Landscape Architecture. As their main sponsor they support the organization's activities mainly aimed at education, professional practice and European lobbying on environmental planning. Landscape architects play a crucial part in this development, which is the reason why Van den Berk decided to support this initiative on a European scale.
Company's profile
Van den Berk Nurseries specializes in semi-mature and mature trees and has a product range that covers more than 1500 varieties of deciduous trees, conifers, shrubs and rhododendrons. The company has developed a unique expertise in the cultivation of trees over three generations. This covers unique ornamental trees, grown for their architectural value, as well as uniform trees in large quantities. It is one of the leading companies in its field in Europe. In January 2009 Van den Berk won the Dutch Horticultural Business Prize.
Van den Berk Nurseries is a supplier to (local) governments, architects and landscape contractors. It offers one of the biggest ranges in avenue trees, in sizes from 16-18 till 100+. The range also includes a variety of shaped trees up to 6m high. Conifers and evergreens are available in 80 varieties from 1 up to 12m height and the range of rhododendrons and azaleas covers over 140 varieties.
Van den Berk Nurseries is focused on the European market.The management makes a business plan every 5 years. Part of the business plan is a strategy that is updated every 3 years. All international markets are looked at individually and a strategy is set for each of these to achieve the targets. An important tool is Van den Berk's international sales team, with native speakers in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish and Russian language. They can offer expert advice on species, availability and suitability and are also present at the Van den Berk stands on several horticultural fairs in Europe, such as the IPM in Essen, Iberflora in Valencia and Green is Life in Warschau.The logistic department of Van den Berk has all the knowledge of shipping trees and arranges the transport to locations throughout Europe.
Trees have been supplied to, for example:
- The Louvre, Paris, France
- Alnwick Castle, UK
- Philips Medical Systems, NL
- Palace of Justice, Antwerp, Belgium
- Torre Espacio, Madrid, Spain
- Royal Victoria Docks, London, UK
- Waldsteiner Gärten, Prague, Tsjech Republic
- Bundesgartenschau, Rostock, Germany
- Expo Zaragosa, Spain
In 2006 the company acquired one of the major nurseries for big rhododendrons in Europe to complete the range in semi-mature and mature trees and shrubs. A new product of this nursery is the ‘Tree Rhododendron'.
Van den Berk Nurseries cultivates its trees in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner according to the requirements of the 'Milieukeur' ecolabel. The cultivation method used is aimed at minimizing the impact on the environment and producing strong, healthy and resilient trees. Van den Berk is 9001:2000 certified.
Van de Berk Nurseries also cooperates with researchers of, for example, the University of Wageningen, to learn about the effects of the different species in relation to the environment revenues. Also the research on resistance of trees to climate changes has the attention of the management. Taking this into account is part of the companies strategy for the future. The knowledge that is collected on the subjects is shared with the clients by publishing articles in the yearly magazine (available in 6 languages) and organizing seminars and lectures.
The company also publishes a book called "Van den Berk on Trees'. It's an 880-page book containing information on all tree types and cultivars used as roadside trees in Europe. More than 800 different trees are described into great detail and visualized with beautiful colour photographs. A ‘tree searcher' can be found on the company's website (www.vdberk.com) that is available in 8 languages. The rhododendrons have their own website (www.vdberk-rhododendron.com) with useful information about different types of rhododendron, planting advice and a flowering season calendar.
All year around trainees are taught by an experienced staff. Van den Berk Nurseries has the license to educate students of several horticultural schools.
Van den Berk is member of the Dutch association of nurseries, as well as of the ‘Bund deutscher Baumschule', and the Dutch federation for Export.
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