The 8th European professional competition for young gardeners in Eupen and La Reid, Belgium
In the week from 22 to 26 August, the European professional competition for young gardeners was held in La Reid and Eupen, Belgium.
21 teams from all over Europe competed to find the winner in demanding tasks from all areas of horticulture.
The winners of the German professional competition from Westphalia and Saxony were also there, starting as Team CEJH (European Young Gardeners) alongside the regular German teams.
At the opening evening in the Europasaal of the Ministry of the German-speaking Community in Eupen, the participants were welcomed and introduced to each other, a small carnival show provided a cheerful atmosphere.
The next day, however, the seriousness of the competition followed in the horticultural centre La Reid, where the teams were also accommodated in a colourful mixture.
In good, sometimes too hot weather, tasks from all areas of horticulture had to be completed, such as the identification of plants and pests or the tasting of edible flowers. Very special challenges were certainly the marking of a queen bee or in vitro propagation. However, the decisive factor for this day was the four-hour gala construction task, during which a dry wall, natural stone paving and rolled turf had to be professionally laid. The results, however, were impressive; even pure ornamental plant teams created impressive work pieces, a sign of the high motivation of many teams.
In the evening we could relax with a tasting of Belgian beers. Even if not everyone was enthusiastic about them, the atmosphere among all teams of the same nationality was very good, just like during the whole competition.
On Wednesday the teams were mixed internationally, now they had to communicate with different languages or, if necessary, with hands and feet. The day was characterized by fun but challenging tasks such as tree climbing and skill tests with the excavator.
The tasks on Thursday finally took place in the city centre of Eupen with great publicity. This day, too, there were tasks in new, international teams, including a wheelbarrow course and a European quiz.
In the national teams two floristic pieces had to be made, a heart with callunes and hydrangeas and in the second test an artistic candlestick. Especially for the many non-florists, the 90-minute tasks were anything but a walk in the park, but here, too, extremely respectable creations were made.
Friday. The competition was over and excursions followed, either to Brussels, to the race track near Spa or to the moorland of the "Hohes Venn". In the Fagnes, despite the dry weather, a few people were allowed to make acquaintance with the moor mud - but such a mishap was put away with humour in the nice group.
In the evening there was finally the award ceremony. But in the end there was much more left of this competition than a placement.
Challenging tasks, good teamwork as well as international exchange and encounters made this 8th European BWB a special and lasting experience for all who were allowed to participate.
click here to see some more Fotos from the competition
