Hillier Trees Celebrates Grown in Britain Week, Supporting Local Sustainability and Innovation

Hillier Trees, one of the UK’s leading tree suppliers, is proud to announce its participation in Grown in Britain Week, an initiative that champions the benefits of sourcing locally grown plants and trees. As a company deeply rooted in British horticulture, Hillier’s commitment to sustainability and innovation is aligned with the goals of this important and national campaign.

Hillier, with over 160 years of history, remains dedicated to cultivating the finest trees in the UK. Throughout the week, the company will showcase its sustainable practices, long-standing expertise, and the collective efforts of its dedicated team members, some of whom have decades of experience in nurturing Britain’s natural environment.

Steve Waldock, Assistant Manager and Hillier employee for 38 years, reflected on his career and the company’s commitment to growth: “The most rewarding part is seeing the large trees we’ve grown leave the nursery, knowing we’ve done everything possible to deliver the best quality. It’s fulfilling to know that we’re contributing to Britain’s green spaces in a meaningful way.”

Hilliers’ role in supporting Grown in Britain aligns with the company’s efforts to minimise environmental impacts through programs such as ISO14001 Environmental Management, Planet Mark, and the Plant Healthy Scheme. This combination of environmental stewardship and biosecurity measures ensures that Hillier-grown trees are both healthy and resilient, while also safeguarding British biodiversity. Julian Tipper, Section Head and Plant Health rep at Hillier noted: “By supporting locally grown plants, there is less chance of importing exotic pests and diseases, and traceability is easier.”

The passion of Hillier’s team shines through in every aspect of their work. Tim Jerome, a grower with the company for over 12 years, emphasised the joy of contributing to the landscapes across the UK: “Seeing the tree go out and then spotting them years later in cities like Portsmouth, I can proudly say I helped grow that from the ground up.”

Throughout the week, Hillier will share stories from its growers to highlight the impact of supporting local horticulture. Assistant Section Head, Daniel Turner, who has been with the company for 13 years, spoke about the camaraderie within the team: “The most rewarding part is seeing the progress of everyone who comes here and how much they learn. It’s great to be a part of that journey.”

Supporting initiatives like Grown in Britain not only helps the environment but strengthens the UK’s green economy. Jamie Crowe, a Hillier grower who has been involved in some of the company’s largest projects, including contributions to the Olympic Park, summed it up perfectly: “Watching the trees develop and seeing them become part of iconic landscapes makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

As Grown in Britain week celebrates the importance of local sourcing, Hillier remains committed to growing the next generation of trees while nurturing the next generation of horticultural talent. “It’s a good laugh and a great bunch of people to work with”, said Simon Farmer, a Hillier veteran of over 21 years. “We bumble along together, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see our work come to life.”

For more information about Hillier visit www.hillier.co.uk.

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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.