In This Issue
Sustainability - Doing nothing is dangerous
Record start to the year, reveals GTN Bestsellers
100km team relay for industry construction specialists
100% natural weed prevention product launched in UK
Buyers flock to Glee at Spring Fair as exhibitors report brisk business from UK and overseas
Glee at Spring Fair New Product Showcase winners
Plant sales up as primulas lead the way
Kelkay win GWP business from rivals
Gardenex secures funding for National Hardware Show
Hillier Nurseries and partners going extra mile to support new Maggie’s Centre Southampton
Pictures from GCA Conference themed-party night
Zest 4 Leisure reveals Charity of the Year for 2020
Award-winning reputation grows for leading garden centre
Gordale staff star in BBC One TV programme
Clothing and houseplants show increases in December
Freedom of City of London granted to compost firm's MD
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
LeisureGrow Group Enhances Sales Management Team with Focus on Pet, Garden & Lighting Growth
Have drip feeders had their day?
Garden retail expert bolsters Vitax’s sales team
Weather, Peat or Price?
Empathy by PlantWorks appoint sales manager for the North
Wild Bird Care sales down
Flymo announces its Ambassador for 2020
Red Baron and Pink Fir Apple lead in the veg patch
HTA applaud vote to keep Universal Business Rates in Scotland
The best of last week's
January sales up on past three years
Glee at Spring Fair is open
Launch of Young People in Horticulture Association
Lubera win award for Best Novelty Bedding Plant
HTA comments on Brexit and Environment Bill
January plant sales are a good omen for a great 2020
Gardenex announces Joe Denham as new chairman
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Casual Dining previews new exhibitors & new launches for 2020
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Hillier Nurseries and partners going extra mile to support new Maggie’s Centre Southampton

A concept image of the planned reflective materials to be used in the creation of the new Maggie’s Centre Southampton.

 

Hillier is proud to be supporting charity partner Maggie’s as they create a brand-new Maggie’s Centre in Southampton, adjacent to the hospital.

 

Fitting with the Maggie’s ethos, the centre will have cutting edge architectural design and beautifully landscaped surrounding gardens. Hillier is providing more than 100 British-grown trees from the company’s nurseries in Hampshire at no profit to the company. Long-running friends of Hillier, MJT Landscapes and Hillier Landscapes, will support with hard and soft landscaping, also at no profit. Together, this will create a major saving for the charity, allowing them to direct more money into the day-to-day running of the Centre. 

 

Maggie’s is a national cancer support charity with 26 centres across the UK and abroad. Built in the grounds of NHS hospitals, these centres provide free practical, emotional and social support to anyone with any type of cancer – and to their family and friends too. Their new centre in Southampton will be the first Maggie’s centre in the South of England. 

 

The Centre is being created in partnership between award-wining architects AL_A, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Sarah Price, one of the country’s most sought-after garden designers. The design is intended to create an oasis in the grounds of the hospital’s suburban campus. Almost three quarters of the 1,470m2site is being given over to four distinct gardens that are inspired by the ecology of the nearby New Forest. The intention is for the garden to look as if it has always been there, providing seclusion from the outside world. Reflective materials and surfaces in the design further the sensation of a building vanishing into the woodlands.

 

A concept image demonstrates the idea of the Centre vanishing into its surroundings

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Maggie’s is the official charity partner of Hillier in 2019-20. Having viewed plans for the new Centre, Hillier saw how they could use their horticultural expertise to offer support towards it through the supply of trees. In keeping with Sarah Price’s design ethos, the tree selection includes species that will create a natural, woodland look and feel; offer a colour palette that blends with the striking architectural design and provide year-round interest. Following a number of visits to Hillier Trees field and container tree nurseries in Hampshire, individual container and root-ball trees have been selected. These include birch, elder, multi-stems and fruit trees, many at semi-mature sizes to create instant impact. They are now marked for Maggie’s, ready to be lifted or called off for delivery when planting begins in early spring. 

 

Trees growing on Hillier Field Nursery at Andlers Ash, near Liss, Hampshire

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Hillier also contacted a number of long-running friends and partners to get even more support for Maggie’s and is now co-ordinated the team response. MJT Landscapes, who have contributed to a number of gold-medal winning Hillier exhibits at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, will be responsible for the hard landscaping element of the build, which includes creation of planting bunds requiring nearly 1,500 tons of sub and top soil. Hillier Landscapes, whose origins go back as far as Hillier to 1864, are offering invaluable support with the planting of all trees, shrubs and perennials, together with associated landscape works.     

 

“MJT Landscapes are thrilled to be working with the Hillier Team on the project for Maggie’s at Southampton,” says Mark Tomlinson, Director of MJT Landscapes. “We are looking forward to starting this interesting project and hope the finished garden will bring comfort to those who visit.”

“Hillier Landscapes are very pleased to be involved with the Maggie’s Centre garden in Southampton — Maggie’s is also our chosen company charity for 2020,” comments Andy Penn, Contracts Manager at Hillier Landscapes. “We look forward to working on planting elements and landscape works and seeing the finished garden.”

 

Ground was broken on the site exactly a year ago, 4th February 2019 and the Centre is hoped to be open by late autumn 2020. 

 

“Maggie's are delighted to be working closely with Hillier to realise Sarah Price's landscape at University Hospital Southampton,” says Siobhan Wyatt, Property Projects Lead at Maggie’s. “Our New Forest oasis will be a haven for all centre visitors while they receive support from our staff.”

“We are delighted to be able to offer support to our charity partner Maggie’s in the creation of this incredible new Centre in Southampton,” comments George Hillier, Director of Property at Hillier Nurseries. “We know what therapeutic benefits gardens can provide and the designs for this are really special. We look forward to seeing it all take shape.”

 

Visit hillier.co.uk to find out more about Hillier Garden Centres  

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