The Horticultural Trades Association has announced the winners of the 2023 Grower of the Year Awards. 

The Awards, now in their second year, were announced at the HTA’s annual conference, Horticulture, The Conference, which took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Thursday 5 October.  

A total of 9 awards were presented across 5 categories, including overall winners and highly commended. Allensmore Nurseries was named Best Finished Plants Grower, Greenwood Plants won the Peat Free Grower award, while Majestic Trees won Inspirational Business. Several individual industry professionals were also recognised, with Kyle Ross of Wyevale Nurseries winning Young Grower under 35 and Maria Bengtsson from Majestic Trees winning Best Staff Member.  

Martin Simmons, Horticulture Support Manager at the HTA, said: “We were delighted by the response to this year’s Grower of the Year Awards and the standard of entries was exceptionally high. Our thanks to the judges, Alan Down, Tim Briercliffe, Martin Cowell and Phil Clayton, who found it quite challenging to separate out the winners, with only one or two points in each category setting them apart. 

The Grower of the Year Awards demonstrate the high calibre of UK nurseries who lead the way in quality, levels of service, innovation and peat-free production and it is fantastic to be able to recognise young and upcoming talent that will ensure our world-class industry can thrive in the future” 

The full list of award winners and highly commended entrants is as follows:  

Young Grower under 35 

Winner: Kyle Ross, Wyevale Nurseries   

Highly commended: Mollie Higginson, New Leaf Plants 

Finished Plant Grower 

Winner: Allensmore Nurseries   

Highly Commended: Bransford Webb Plant Company  

Peat Free Grower  

Winner: Greenwood Plants  

Highly Commended: Majestic Trees  

Inspirational Business 

Winner: Majestic Trees  

Staff Member  

Winner: Maria Bengtsson, Majestic Trees   

Highly commended: Karen Jenkins, Bransford Webb Plant Company