Celebrating Topiary Excellence: Winners announced for Henchman’s Inaugural Topiary Awards
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After months of anticipation, leading garden ladder expert, Henchman has unveiled the winners of its 2024 inaugural Topiary Awards. The competition, launched by Henchman to celebrate and honour the centuries-old tradition of shaping living sculptures from plants, has drawn entries from across Britain. This year’s competition saw a fantastic display of topiary mastery, showcasing the very best in garden artistry.
“We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Henchman Topiary Awards and to recognise their exceptional talent and passion for topiary. We were blown away by the quality of submissions – both in the Professional and Home Gardener category – so much so that the judges have selected a first place winner, second place and a highly commended, as well as the Henchman’s Choice award. Each winning sculpture is a testament to the creativity and skill that’s out there across Britain” said Clare Lenaghan-Balmer, Head of Marketing at Henchman.
The entries were evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria designed to assess their creativity, craftsmanship, and overall impact, by an esteemed panel of topiary experts and horticulturalists including; Elizabeth Hilliard, Editor of European Boxwood and Topiary Society (EBTS) magazine TOPIARIUS; Michael Buck, Head of Horticulture at Creepers Nursery; Andy Bourke, professional topiarist better known as The Hedge Barber; and Owen Simpson, Managing Director at Henchman.
Professional Gardener Category
Taking home first prize in the Professional Gardener Category is Harrie Carnochan from West Sussex. Harrie maintains this topiary garden, the immaculate symmetry wowed the judges, with Harrie’s expert attention to detail and skill evident in the high impact finish. Small topiary balls sit atop perfectly sculpted columns to welcome visitors to the garden, with rounded trees standing proudly around the lawn.
In second place is Suffolk-based Chris Reeve, whose topiary creation brings a touch of magical enchantment to any garden. The design features a carefully crafted frog that seems ready to leap into life. Its intricate details include rounded eyes, a pronounced mouth and gracefully arched limbs, showcasing exceptional skill, creativity and a keen eye for detail.
Recognised for his charming and lifelike depiction of two dogs, the highly commended award goes to Simon Newman from Worcestershire. These intricately sculpted canine figures demonstrate a high level of topiary artistry and creativity, and provide the perfect welcome to this dog-lover’s home.
Home Gardener Category
The winning entry in the Home Gardener Category goes to David Hawson from Aberdeenshire, whose design features a whimsical scene featuring countryside animals and marine creatures carefully sculpted into a continuous hedge, resulting in a high-impact horizon. Divided by a central archway, the design artfully contrasts earthbound creatures with those of the sea, creating a striking dual landscape that captivates with its charm and symmetry.
This remarkable topiary creation began forty five years ago as three-inch yew seedlings, initially planted as a natural barrier to keep livestock out of the garden. Reflecting inspiration from Herman Neville's “Moby Dick”, the topiary features scenes from the novel, including the stern of Captain Ahab’s ship and Queequeg poised to harpoon the great white whale. David’s expert techniques, like plaiting stems and utilising the sun’s changing angles, enhance the garden’s enchanting atmosphere. His hope is that this living form of art brings a smile to all who pass by.
In second place is Petra Hoyer-Millar from Oxfordshire, whose design features a series of perfectly clipped hedges crafted into large, rounded shapes that flow sinuously to create a cloud-like effect, guiding the eye along their length with artistic precision and skill.
Hugh Johnson from Somerset received highly commended recognition for his display of intricate sculptured shapes. The garden includes a variety of traditional topiary designs, such as spiral and cone shapes, punctuated with vibrant purple flowers to add a splash of colour.
Henchman Choice Award
The Henchman Choice Award, voted for by the Henchman team, goes to Bedfordshire-based Keith Miles for his impressive life-size tractor sculpture crafted from densely trimmed shrubs. The lush greenery creates a striking three-dimensional form complete with the figure of a person sat proudly behind the steering wheel, resulting in an unmistakable depiction of the agricultural machine.
The winners were announced at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival, where they received a trophy, a bundle of Henchman products, an annual membership to the European Boxwood and Topiary Society and a day trip for two to one of the EBTS UK’s day-long garden trips.
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Editors notes
Henchman has been a pioneer of specialist garden ladders and safe hedge-cutting platforms since 1994, when it launched its first model at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Founded by father and son duo Mike and Tom Kitching, over the past three decades the company has evolved from a small family business to the leading garden ladder brand in the UK.
Based in Wiltshire, the dedicated design team at Henchman offers a wide range of unique products created to keep customers safe on uneven terrain while working at height.
Its collection includes the cutting-edge Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder, Fully Adjustable PRO Tripod Ladder, the Hi-Step Platform, the Wheeled Henchman, as well as a range of large capacity wheelbarrows and accessories, all designed to make gardening a safe, sturdy and enjoyable experience.
Henchman has pioneered the way in ladder safety and is the first and only fully EN131 certified Tripod Ladder on the market in the UK and the rest of the world.
From the National Trust, to the England Rugby team and Royal Households, and not forgetting thousands of gardeners, DIY-enthusiasts and professionals, Henchman helps its customers get the job done, safely.
