Hillier leads the way in peat-free horticulture

Hillier has reached a major milestone by transitioning all its nurseries to 100% peat-free operations. This landmark achievement not only reflects the Hillier long-standing commitment to sustainability but also sets a new benchmark in the horticultural industry. As one of the early adopters of peat-free practices, Hillier has been at the forefront of this vital environmental shift for over a decade. Charles Carr, Head of Nurseries at Hillier, shares his thoughts on the challenges, successes, and future direction. 

“Transitioning to peat-free growing has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys we’ve undertaken at Hillier. For over a decade, we have been committed to reducing our reliance on peat, starting with making 40% of our operations peat-free long before the industry at large began to address this issue. Now, in 2025 we have fully eliminated peat from our production processes. 

“This journey wasn’t easy. We’ve faced increased nursery wastage, higher costs and the need to fundamentally rethink how we grow and care for our plants. Throughout this process, we’ve learned to adapt and optimise our methods to ensure that our plants thrive in peat-free compost, leading to healthier, more resilient plants. Our commitment to sustainability has driven us to continually innovate and improve our growing practices." 

“Being a part of the RHS Peat-Free Fellowship has provided crucial scientific support to back up our practical findings. This collaboration, under the guidance of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, has allowed us to share and gain critical knowledge, trial new methods and contribute to the wider industry’s shift to peat-free growing. 

“We’ve had to innovate continuously – refining our irrigation techniques, researching new feeds tailored to peat-free compost, and experimenting with wetting agents to improve water distribution. We’re also utilising advanced tools like probes and data loggers to better understand how the growing media impacts plant growth in peat-free compost. 

“Looking ahead, our focus remains on research and development. We are committed to improving the quality and shelf life of our plants, ensuring that our customers receive the very best products. This transition to 100% peat-free is just the beginning. We are determined to lead by example, showing that it’s possible to produce high-quality plants while protecting the environment for future generations." 

For more information about Hillier and its peat-free efforts, visit the Peat Free Hub at https://www.hillier.co.uk/peat-free/. 

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Editors notes

“To inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future” Hillier is one of the leading names in the horticultural industry, with 160 years of growing and retail experience.

Founded in 1864 by Edwin Hillier, the company remains a family-run nursery with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business as it continues to grow.

Not only is Hillier the largest producer of semi-mature trees in Europe and grower of over one million plants at its Hampshire nursery, but it also employs over 750 staff across its nursery, amenity trees and 22 garden centre divisions and is a flourishing multi-million pound company. It proudly holds the world record for the most consecutive gold medals awards at the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with 74 wins.

As one of the leading growers in the UK, Hillier is involved in many peat-free initiatives, including the RHS Peat-Free Fellowship, the largest peat-free collaborative research project globally. The company was amongst the first nurseries to become 100% peat-free across both its production nursery and retail garden centres, and all Hillier plants are grown in peat-free compost.

Recent successes for the company include the launch of its online shop, the substantial redevelopment of Hillier Garden Centre Newbury and the acquisition of the Rosebourne Garden Centre Group in November 2022, as well as sponsorship of BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, and the incredibly popular free ‘Hillier Gardening Club’ loyalty program which now has over half a million members.

Renowned for being a leading breeder of plants in the UK at its 100% peat-free nursery in Hampshire, each year Hillier introduces amazing new varieties. Many of these have become essentials in British gardens and the company continues with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day.