Make Christmas magical at Hillier Garden Centre this festive season

As the festive season approaches, Hillier Garden Centre is inviting families and shoppers to get into the Christmas spirit, with a packed programme of festive events, seasonal food, Christmas shopping and family experiences. 

From choosing the perfect Christmas tree and enjoying a festive feast, to creating a beautiful wreath and making magical memories with Father Christmas, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year at Hillier. 

The festivities begin with the Christmas Launch Evening on Tuesday 3rd November from 5pm to 8pm, when visitors will be able to enjoy a special evening of Christmas shopping, seasonal entertainment and festive treats. 

Throughout November, Hillier will also be holding two Late Night Shopping Evenings, with exclusive discounts, as well as several Truly Scrumptious Festive Food Evenings, (at select centres) featuring a treasure trove of festive foods, tasty treats and delightful drinks.  

For those looking for a more creative Christmas activity, Hillier’s ever-popular Christmas Wreath Making Workshops are making a return. Led by Hillier experts, the two-hour workshops give participants the chance to create their own festive wreath using fresh seasonal foliage and beautiful decorations. Materials and refreshments are included, making it a fun way to get into the festive spirit while creating something special to take home. 

After all that shopping and festive fun, a Festive lunch or Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to unwind. From the 23rd November to the 23rd December visitors can indulge in a festive feast with all the trimmings, choosing from a delicious two-course lunch or a delightful afternoon tea. 

And for younger guests, there’s the chance to meet the man himself. Breakfast with Santa includes a fun-filled festive session of Christmas activities, a beautiful breakfast, and a visit from Father Christmas. Every child will also receive a sweet treat and memorable gift to take home.  

Events vary per centre so please check online for specific details. 

Key dates:  

• 3rd November, 5pm - 8pm: Christmas Launch Evening 
• 17th, 19th, 24th and 26th November, 4.30pm - 8pm: Truly Scrumptious Food Evening 
• 23rd November – 23rd December: Festive Lunch & Afternoon Tea 
• 30th November – 5th December, various times: Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 
• 5th – 24th December, 9am: Breakfast with Father Christmas 
• 9th and 11th December, 5pm - 8pm: Christmas Shopping Evening 

For further information and to book, please visit www.hillier.co.uk or visit your local Hillier Garden Centre. 

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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.