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Scotland's Native Trees and Shrubs
Which form of procurement is most suitable?
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The four main UK Regions of Provenance. The open market can currently only supply a limited range of native species of known provenance in large quantities. Designers and buyers should be flexible and only expect to obtain such stock from the four main Regions of Provenance in the meantime. |
There are currently three main forms of procurement:
- the open market
- contract grow
- contract supply
The decisions made during the selection and procurement process thus far will favour one of these as the preferred option. If it is a relatively small quantity of Scots pine or birch that is required then it is likely the open market would be able to supply a wide range of good quality stock. If it is a large quantity of less commonly grown alder buckthorn ( Frangula alnus) in 1.5 litre deep-root cells that is required, contract grow or contract supply would probably be the only option.
The open market can currently only supply a limited range of native species of known origin and provenance in large quantities. The market availability will no doubt continue to follow the trend of demand and improve. In the meantime it is not realistic to expect growers to produce large quantities of known provenance stock speculatively. Thus designers and buyers can currently only reasonably expect the open market to supply native stock from within one of the four main UK Regions of Provenance.
When buying directly from the grower the most important decision is to select the right growers with whom to do business. Success for both parties rests in establishing a good two-way relationship. The grower needs to understand the buyer's requirements and the buyer needs to have confidence in the grower.
Contract grow is an agreement between a client and grower to grow a defined quantity of stock to the client's specification and requirements. Contract grow is a reliable and cost-effective form of procurement where large quantities of particular species are required at a predictable time. This agreement can contain any conditions upon which both parties agree. It is usually the case, however, that the plants become the property of the client from the onset and because they are grown to an agreed specification, the client and grower must share the risk of failure.
Contract supply is an agreement to supply a quantity of plants of a defined quality at a prescribed time. The main difference from 'contract grow' is that the client does not prescribe the way in which the stock shall be grown, just the quality of the product. The grower has the flexibility, within an agreed framework, to grow the plants as he thinks fit and consequently accepts the benefits but also the risk of failure.
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