A Leading UK commercial nursery in Hereford is swapping one form of willow for another by sponsoring Herefordshire Women’s Cricket this season.

Wyevale Nurseries, a well-known tree and hedging grower, has given £2,500 to help support training, boost awareness of the game and promote opportunities for women’s play in the county.

Tim Fawbert, Group Finance Director at Wyevale Nurseries, which celebrates its 95th anniversary in business this year, explains: “We are very proud to be involved in backing Women’s and Girls’ Cricket in Herefordshire. We strongly believe in supporting women both in the workplace and on the sports-field, particularly in areas where it has been typically hard to gain a foothold.

“Just like our role in promoting Women in Horticulture, we think that by being involved in this initiative, we can help accelerate the growth of the women’s and girls’ game in Herefordshire, as well as cultivate a passion for cricket and nurture our potential stars of the future.

“Wyevale Nurseries has a long established and deep-rooted presence in Herefordshire; we are hoping we can help Women’s and Girl’s cricket in Herefordshire reach the same status.”

By nurturing aspiring cricketers, Wyevale Nurseries aims to emphasise the value of growth – both on the field and in the garden.

Kate Brazier, Women and Girls Development Officer, at Herefordshire Cricket, says: “We’re delighted to have received this wonderful sponsorship and support from Wyevale Nurseries, which itself has a very strong team of women in key roles in the business, including its Chairman, Heather Williamson, at the helm.

“The whole point of women’s cricket is not only to make cricket a gender-balanced sport, but also to create a positive change to bring people together. To act as role models and encourage the future generations to help create such a powerful and inclusive sport.”

One of the county’s club success stories is the Bartestree and Lugwardine Ladies team, which has 48 registered players.

They play in the Herefordshire league, attend festivals and have an enviable social calendar.

Tharindi Attalipitiya, Captain of the team, says: “I love playing cricket because I feel so included and encouraged. It’s also so much fun and very educational! It’s great to be part of such an amazing team too.”

Wyevale Nurseries, which has been operating in Hereford since 1930, has a product selection and a highly knowledgeable and experienced team that’s admired across the horticultural industry, and is also well-known for its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Its main business is to supply landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners, as well as retailers and garden centres, with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, or to find out more, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.