Recent Awards and Milestones

2006 - 61st Consecutive Gold Medal Chelsea Flower Show
2006 - Grower of the Year – Hardy Nursery Stock - HTA/Grower Magazine
2005 - Grower of the Year – Semi-mature Trees – Horticulture Week Magazine
2005 - Best New Plant Variety – Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ – Horticulture Week Magazine
2005 - Guinness World Record 60th Consecutive Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show
2004 - Sustainable Business Awards
2004 - Water Conservation Awards

Links

61st CONSECUTIVE GOLD MEDAL AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW MAY 2006

Hillier's continued their record run by achieving their 61st consecutive gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show in May this year. The garden was titled “Arc and Texture”, and explored the relationship between architectural trees and plants and textures provided by different plant and landscape materials.  Please visit www.hillier.co.uk for more coverage and photos of this achievement.

HILLIER NURSERIES AWARDED “GROWER OF THE YEAR” 2006

Growing Success

Hillier Nurseries was recognised as the  Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) "Grower of the Year" at the industry awards hosted by The Grower magazine on February 23rd 2006 at the Lancaster Hotel in London.

L-R Kevin Hobbs (Senior Manager) Caroline Swann (Marketing Manager) Ken Crowther (HTA President)

Sustainable Business Development

The award was in recognition of the culmination of a 10 year business sustainability strategy, having identified a decade earlier that sustainability was an opportunity not a threat.  The strategy focused on 7 key areas: Research and Development, Corporate Sustainability, Self-sufficient Water Use, Recycling, Reduction in Chemical Usage, Use of Peat and Reduction in Transport costs.

In every area Hillier Nurseries has achieved notable targets, while in the same period increasing turnover by 55%, including:-

• 80% reduction in water costs,
• 100% container recycling (623 tonnes of plastic pots)
• 30% reduction in paper use
• 30% and 50% reduction in chemical use on the open nursery and in glasshouses respectively
• 100% peat-free tree production
• 40% peat reduction in shrubs
• 90% of young plant budget spent locally
• 18% saving in transport

Robert Hillier, Hanaging Director, comments:
“It has been encouraging to review the plan and to be able to chart its progress.  I thank all the individuals within our Company who have contributed continually to ensure that sustainability has remained at the heart of our commercial enterprise.  I look forward to the next decade and the new challenges we will most certainly face.”

Further Recognition

• Guinness World Record 60th consecutive Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show 2005
• Horticulture Week - Winner “Best New Plant Variety” 2005
• Horticulture Week - Winner “Grower of the Year” 2005

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Awards – Winner 2004

HILLIER DOUBLE AT INDUSTRY AWARDS

Hillier Nurseries had two reasons to celebrate at the prestigious Horticulture Week Awards in October 2005.  Bolstering their reputation as the UK’s premier nursery grower they won the 2005 "Grower of the Year Award" and the 2005 "Best New Plant Variety Award".

The "Best Grower of the Year Award" was for the production of top quality Semi-mature Trees.  In the words of the judges “Promotional activity and plant quality made Hillier stand out from the rest.”

The "Best New Plant Variety" was awarded for the introduction into the UK and Ireland of Ulmus ‘New Horizon’, an Elm resistant to Dutch Elm Disease – “a real and long awaited breakthrough” commented the judges.

Hossein Arshadi (Director) accepting the award from Fiona Bruce and Marketing Manager BBC Gardeners World Live.

WORLD RECORD GOLD MEDAL HAUL AT CHELSEA

Hillier Nurseries smashed into the Guinness Book of Records with their 60th consecutive Gold Medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show in May 2005.

Hillier's has exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show since the first one in the Royal Hospital grounds in 1913.  They had received a hat-full of medals before embarking on this incredible run in 1938.  This achievement is testimony to the high standards of plantsmanship that has been cultivated over generations and continues today.

ULMUS ‘NEW HORIZON’

The ‘New Horizon’ Elm is the first tangible positive news after the devastation of Dutch Elm Disease which destroyed 30 million elms in the last century in the UK alone.

Background
Originally bred in Wisconsin University by Professor Smalley by crossing Ulmus japonica with Ulmus pumila back in the 1950’s, the resulting trees were injected with the D.E.D. fungus.  The results were observed and those that showed no ailments or recovered quickly were re-crossed to strengthen their resistance.  Further selections were made based on shape, leaf colour, hardiness and landscape value.  One of the five resulting “resista elms” was Ulmus ‘New Horizon’.

Attributes
Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ is a medium-sized tree particularly suitable for avenue or street planting due to its compact habit.  It has a dense, conical crown with even branches and upright twigs.  The leaves are a dark, silky, glossy green.  It tolerates compact soils and is resistant to stress from traffic, wind and frost.

How to buy Ulmus ‘New Horizon’
Hillier Nurseries has the sole rights to these trees in the UK and Ireland under Plant Breeders Rights legislation. They are available from November – March as bare-root or root-balled trees in sizes 10-12cm girth (approximately 10’ tall) to 30-35cm girth (approximately 18’ tall). They are available all-year-round in 200 litre containers in sizes 20-25cm and 25-30cm girths.

These are available to trade or in commercial quantities and enquiries should be made to jimhillier@hillier.co.uk.