Grower Of The Year Awards

The Grower of the Year Awards demonstrates the high calibre of UK nurseries that 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 winners of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Grower of the Year Awards 2025 were announced at a celebration dinner following Horticulture, the Conference, held in the Garden Room of the Barbican Centre in London on 25 September. The awards celebrate the UK’s ornamental growers and recognise excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements in the environmental horticultural industry.

Twelve awards were presented across six categories. The top winners of the night were Hillier Nurseries Ltd, which took home the Blooming Marvellous Employer, Life Beyond Peat and Plant Producer awards; and Greenwood Plants, which won the Inspirational Business award.

Individuals in the sector were also recognised on the night, including Jane Poyner from Majestic Trees, who received the Best Staff Member award and Thomas Smith, also from Majestic Trees, who took home the highly contested Young Grower under 35 award.

The winners of the Awards were presented with a certificate and trophy and now have the option of entering the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards

Blooming Marvellous Employer

Winner

Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Highly Commended

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

Inspirational Business

Winner

Greenwood Plants

Highly Commended

Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Life Beyond Peat

Winner

Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Highly Commended

Alba Trees Ltd

Plant Producer

Winner

Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Highly Commended

Majestic Trees

Best Staff Member

Winner

Jane Poyner, Majestic Trees

Highly Commended

Alastair Hazell, Darby Nursery Stock

Young Grower under 35

Winner

Thomas Smith, Majestic Trees

Highly Commended

Abigail Green, Allensmore Nurseries

Judges Bios

Will was the 6th generation owner and Managing Director of Armitage's Garden Centres from 2005 to 2015. He is now a consultant to the horticultural industry, President of the HTA, chair of the HTA's Nursery Business Improvement Scheme and chair of the HTA's Business Improvement Scheme for Scotland, East Anglia and The South East.
William Armitage

Philip Clayton is a freelance garden writer and editor, and one of the UK's most knowledgeable horticulturists, having previously worked with the RHS for two decades, latterly as Deputy Editor of The Garden magazine. He has written hundreds of articles for a broad range of publications with expertise in garden plants, gardens (great and small) and nurseries. His most recent books include A Plant for Every Day of the Year (2022) and Parched (2024). He was named Roy Lancaster Features Writer of the Year by the Garden Media Guild in 2024.
Philip Clayton

Sarah is the third generation of her family to lead the business founded by her grandfather, DJ Squire, in 1936. Originally established as a nursery and landscaping company, Squire’s has evolved into a garden centre group, with the opening of its first site in Twickenham in 1964 by Sarah’s father, Colin Squire. Sarah’s connection to the business began early, working weekends at Squire’s while still at school. After qualifying as a solicitor, specialising in commercial property work, she chose to given up the law and return to the family business in 1995, taking a part time horticultural course at Merrist Wood College to enhance her plant knowledge.
Sarah Squire