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Historic Houses launches 2025 Garden of the Year Award

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Historic Houses launches 2025 Garden of the Year Award: The Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2025 has kicked off, with eight beautiful gardens competing to be named the Garden of the Year in a public vote. The award, launched in 1984 and sponsored by Christie’s auction house, has gone from strength to strength since then, with tens of thousands of votes cast in recent years.

Shortlisted entries are chosen from among the hundreds of gardens, parks, and grounds that offer free entry to members of Historic Houses, the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles, and gardens. Details of this year’s eight finalist gardens can be found below. Voting is open now on the Historic Houses website.

Historic Houses launches 2025 Garden of the Year Award

Historic Houses launches 2025 Garden of the Year Award

Ben Cowell, Director General at Historic Houses, said: “This year’s shortlist shows the variety on show across England’s finest gardens. They range from the historic grandeur of Arundel Castle to the bluebells and wildflower meadows of Hole Park. Hestercombe blends Georgian formality with Edwardian charm, while Iford Manor offers Italianate terraces and tranquil vistas. At Lowther Castle, a planting scheme has taken over the ruins, while at Penshurst Place visitors can enjoy 11 acres of Elizabethan gardens. The walled gardens at Raby Castle have recently had a complete makeover, while Wollerton Old Hall delights with intimate garden rooms and exquisite planting. Each of our shortlist offers a unique journey through history, beauty, and seasonal splendour.”

Ursula Cholmeley, Chair of the Historic Houses Gardens Committee, said: “There is such a wonderfully diverse range of gardens in the UK under independent ownership, and this annual award is a great opportunity to recognise and reward the hard work that goes into the upkeep of these gardens, from both the owners and full gardening teams. This year’s shortlist showcases the natural beauty up and down the country, with eight impressive gardens.”

Orlando Rock, Chairman at Christie’s UK, said: “As proud supporters of this wonderful initiative since its inception in 1984, we always look forward to this time of year with great anticipation. The announcement of the nominations aligns perfectly with the arrival of spring, a season that reflects renewal and beauty. Each garden in this year’s nominations offers a unique vision, brimming with creativity and elegance. We invite everyone to explore these breathtaking gardens and cast their votes for their favourite. Best of luck to all the nominees, and may the gardens continue to inspire us all. “

About the eight competing gardens

Arundel Castle Gardens, West Sussex

Set high on a hill, Arundel Castle commands the local Sussex landscape with magnificent views across the South Downs and the River Arun.

The extensive 38 acres of gardens and landscape provide visitors with beautiful floral displays throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months, with wonderful specimen trees within the landscape and an immense variety of plants throughout the gardens.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/arundel-castle/visit/

Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset

Hestercombe Gardens, located near Taunton, spans 50 acres of quintessential Somerset beauty and showcases four centuries of garden design. Visitors can explore the Georgian Landscape Garden from the 1750s, the Victorian Shrubbery, and the Edwardian Formal Gardens, crafted in the early 1900s by Sir Edwin Lutyens with planting schemes by Gertrude Jekyll, offering a rich and varied horticultural experience.

Through meticulous research and conservation efforts, Hestercombe Gardens Trust have brought back the gardens to their original splendour, blending historical accuracy with enduring beauty.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/hestercombe-house-and-gardens/visit/

Hole Park, Kent

Hole Park is an extensive, private family garden of rich variety set in classic English parkland. Created after World War I in the style of an Edwardian gentleman’s garden, it has evolved into a wonderful blend of the formal and informal thanks to the dedicated vision and care of four generations of the Barham family. Standout features include extensive Yew topiary, herbaceous borders; sweeping lawns with fine specimen trees, ponds and pools, and a magnificent walled garden.

The gardens are centred around a beautiful Georgian house with spectacular views of the surrounding parkland and hills of the High Weald National Landscape.

Historic Houses website

Iford Manor Gardens, Wiltshire

Tucked away at the bottom of a tranquil valley, the garden at Iford is historic and has evolved over many generations of passionate private gardeners, most famously landscape architect Harold Peto who made Iford his home 1899-1933.  He took a Georgian terraced garden and developed it further, building on Mediterranean as well as Japanese influences, with statues, colonnades, rills and ponds gracing the terraces.

By 2025, Iford will have been on a 60-year restoration journey, over two generations. Thought lost after the war, the structural recovery was undertaken by John and Elizabeth Cartwright-Hignett. William & Marianne Cartwright-Hignett encountered a new generation of challenges when they took over in 2016. They have recovered and restored many areas, extending and enhancing in the process.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/iford-manor-gardens/visit/

Lowther Castle, Cumbria

When Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust recruited a garden designer to take on the sleeping beauty that the gardens then were, their brief was clear: the gardens should not be restored as such; instead, the gardens should see layers of the new and layers of the old side by side.

The resulting gardens at Lowther Castle are amazing. They take the formality of the seventeenth century, the pseudo romance of the neo-Gothic, the extravagance of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and blow them all up – in consequence presenting ideas that are novel and striking and bold.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/lowther-castle/visit/

Penshurst Place Gardens, Kent

The formal gardens at Penshurst Place have records dating to 1346, though their formal structure didn’t begin to take form until the 1560’s, when Henry Sidney divided the area into “rooms” to grow fruit trees.

Today the thriving formal Gardens are divided into eleven distinct rooms which cover a variety of styles including herbaceous borders, renaissance-inspired box hedging, water features, statues and patterns. Visitor highlights include the 100-metre long Peony Border which features four varieties of pink peony, the Union Flag Garden which uses a selection of roses and lavender to create the Union Flag, and the bright vivid colours found along Jubilee Walk.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/penshurst-place/visit/

Raby Castle, Park, and Gardens, County Durham

When 12th Lord Barnard inherited Raby in 2016, he and Lady Barnard commissioned award-winning designer Luciano Giubbilei to join them on a journey of reimagination. The result opened in June 2024; a transformation & ingenious re-thinking of its distinctive spirit. Historic features from red-brick walls to mature yew hedges blend perfectly with new additions, a grass amphitheatre, mazes & graceful rill.

Described by the 4th Duchess in 1870 as “A never-failing delight”, the walled gardens have enchanted visitors for centuries. Evolving to embrace innovation, nurture an ever-increasing variety of plants, and respond to global changes, the most recent transformation sees the garden grow into the 21st century with a graceful, contemporary reimagining.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/raby-castle/visit/

Wollerton Old Hall Garden, Shropshire

Designed by Lesley and John Jenkins, the garden is set around a Grade II* sixteenth century Hall and has developed into an important modern garden in the English Garden tradition with echoes of Arts and Crafts. Covering three acres, it consists of a series of 14 linked garden “rooms” filled with modern and often specialist plantings.

The carefully managed successional planting ensures that each season has its appeal to visitors. The early months of the year are awash with drifts of anemones, erythroniums, snowdrops, trilliums and hellebores and dotted with bursts of colour from scilla, corydalis, muscari and tulips. The summer months are filled with the scent of roses, delphiniums, dahlias and phlox.

https://www.historichouses.org/house/wollerton-old-hall-garden/visit/

About the Garden of the Year Award

For over forty years the public have voted one of Historic House’s member gardens their favourite of the year. The award, run in conjunction with Christie’s, has gone from strength to strength since then.

Shortlisted entries are chosen from among the hundreds of gardens, parks, and grounds that offer free entry to members of Historic Houses, the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles, and gardens.

In addition, the panel will make a second, direct, award to a garden they consider embodies excellence on a smaller scale, either of area, staffing, or access, and hence has less opportunity to influence the popular poll – known as the Judges’ Choice Award.

Each winner holds the crown for the whole of the following year – the sought-after title can considerably boost visitor numbers, really putting the garden on the map.

Further information about the Garden of the Year Award can be found here.

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Tveit Park named European Distributor of the Year

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Tveit Park named European Distributor of the Year: Bernhard and Company, the global leader in fine turf sharpening solutions, has named Tveit Park in Norway as its European Distributor of the Year for 2024. The award recognises outstanding commitment to brand development, customer engagement, and driving sales growth in the region.

Since taking over the company in 2023, Frode Tjelta, Managing Director of Tveit Park, has worked tirelessly with his team to re-establish Bernhard and Company’s presence in the Scandinavian market. Their proactive approach has included organising multiple demonstration events, significantly increasing awareness of the Bernhard and Company brand and its industry-leading grinding solutions. This dedication has already translated into impressive sales results, with a surge in machine deliveries across the region.

Tveit Park named European Distributor of the Year

Tveit Park named European Distributor of the Year

Steven Nixon, Managing Director of Bernhard and Company, commented: “Tveit Park has demonstrated exactly what we value in a distribution partner – commitment, energy, and a clear focus on delivering the best for our customers. Under Frode’s leadership, the company has made huge strides in revitalising our presence in Norway, and we’re excited to continue working together to bring even more education and support to turf professionals across Europe.”

Frode Tjelta, Managing Director of Tveit Park, added: “It’s an honour to receive this recognition from Bernhard and Company. We believe in the quality and precision of their products, and we’ve worked hard to showcase their benefits to our customers. This award is testament to our team’s efforts, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership and bring even more value to the market.”

Tveit Park has been proactive in showcasing Bernhard and Company’s industry-leading grinding solutions through a series of ‘Sharper Solutions’ demo days. In late 2024, nearly 40 turf professionals gathered to learn about optimal cutting unit setup, maintenance, and sharpening techniques. The session featured hands-on demonstrations of the Anglemaster 4100 bedknife grinder and Express Dual 4300 reel grinding machine, highlighting their efficiency and precision. These days have been instrumental in increasing awareness if Bernhard and Company’s products, reinforcing Tveit Park’s commitment to education and customer support.

With a strong foundation now in place, Bernhard and Company and Tveit Park are set to expand their collaboration further, ensuring that more turf professionals across Europe benefit from industry-leading sharpening solutions and educational opportunities.

For more information on Bernhard and Company’s distributor network, head to: https://bernhard.co.uk/contact/

To find out more about Tveit Park, visit: https://www.tveitpark.no/

You can also find Bernhard and Company on Twitter at @BernhardCompany, on Instagram at @bernhardcompany, and on Facebook and LinkedIn by searching Bernhard Company.

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New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

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New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers: GreenMech’s ongoing commitment to product enhancement has seen an exciting upgrade on two popular petrol models.

From 20th January 2025, production of the EVO 165P Sub-750 and Arborist 150P will feature a new Briggs and Stratton Vanguard EFI 40HP engine, delivering even greater power, productivity and efficiency.

New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

Originally launched to meet the requirements of modern arborists and landscapers looking for powerful bite, torque and throughput in a sub-750kg package, the EVO165P Sub-750 has gone on to cement its position as one of the most capable woodchippers in the 6” category. The key features of the series including wide infeed chute, twin horizontal rollers, all steel bonnet and heavy-duty flywheel are now combined with a higher horsepower engine, taking proven performance to new heights.

The Arborist 150P is already the top selling chipper in Europe in its class, but by installing a high-output 40hp petrol engine, GreenMech can now offer close to similar performance to the diesel-engined Arborist 150D, but at a lower cost.

Together with delivering close to 8% more processing power for brash and woody waste, the newly upgraded models also feature a yellow idle/run button to quickly and easily increase or decrease throttle power to operating speed. The simplicity of button operation and electronic throttle now aligns with GreenMech’s diesel offerings, facilitating the chippers to go from idle to full power with one touch. They also feature a second hour meter, mounted directly to the engine, and an upgraded ignition barrel.

As standard, all models in the EVO and Arborist ranges feature GreenMech’s unique disc blade chipping system. In operation, only 30% of the blade’s circumference comes into contact with the waste material, reducing the blades vulnerability to contaminant damage and enabling the blade to be turned to a new sharp section when edges get worn. This equates to 600% more blade life and significantly more hours of chipping before the need to re-sharpen.

The new EVO 165P Sub-750 and Arborist 150P are also backed-up by GreenMech’s no-quibble, three-year parts and labour warranty. For more information visit www.greenmech.co.uk

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Peter Pattenden announced as Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year

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Peter Pattenden announced as Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year: Peter Pattenden, spray tech at the Cheshire championship golf resort, Carden Park, has won the prestigious title of Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year.

Peter’s ASOOTY award presentation was made as part of the glittering BIGGA industry awards at BTME in Harrogate this week (21 January 2025), along with the competition’s other finalists, Sarah Phillips of Complete Weed Control (South & Central Wales) and Mark Sippitt of Top Grass UK.

Peter Pattenden announced as Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year

Peter Pattenden announced as Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year

The ASOOTY awards highlight best practice and experience in the challenging role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces.

Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta and managed by the Amenity Forum, the awards seek to share top tips and advice that will raise the standards of spray application across the amenity industry.

The ASOOTY judges particularly praised Peter’s commitment to complete a comprehensive checklist of mechanical and practical points before every application, including calibration of the sprayer and assessment of the specific requirements for any products being used.

“Although only a relatively young age, Peter ably demonstrated a deep understanding of the principles of sprayer mechanics and operation, along with the implication of how any changes could impact on application,” reports Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes.

“He also showed an excellent awareness of the environmental aspects of good sprayer operation that will mitigate any impact of off-target spray drift or over application. His commitment and attention to achieving accurate application was exemplary and makes him a great role model for other sprayer operators to learn from.”

The judges also highlighted how Peter had embraced new technologies in a move towards precision application to ensure more of the products hit the intended target, as well as adopting digital tools including sprayer set up advice, turf management Apps and application record keeping.

Other ASOOTY finalists at the Awards included Sarah Phillips of Complete Weed Control (South & Central Wales), who was commended for her pioneering work in developing a comprehensive and effective training programme for the company’s spray technicians, which draws on her extensive experience and knowledge as a highly professional operator.

Mark Sippitt, of Warwickshire-based Top Grass UK, was also praised for the way he had successfully developed integrated turf management strategies for lawn treatments including herbicides, iron treatment, nutrition and mechanical controls – where accurate knapsack application was at the centre of the company’s approach. Ongoing training and regular in-house assessment ensures Mark and other Top Grass operatives are always fully up to date with developments and techniques.

ICL Landscape & Industrial Business Development Manager, Lewis Blois, added: “We were once again hugely impressed with all the finalists’ dedication to ensuring every application is made as effectively as possible. They all take exceptional care to achieve a good result, as well as immense pride that they have made a real difference with a job well done.

“This year the Awards have recognised the range of spray application techniques and the differing skills involved across the amenity sector. It will provide a unique and vitally important resource for all involved in spray application.”

Presenting the award at BTME, Ian Graham, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said: “The skills required to competently apply professional plant protection products are often overlooked. Along with the formal training and accreditation process, there is the experience that takes years to acquire.

“Winners of this award have elevated the application process to an art, be that with a knapsack or a boom sprayer, to help create great playing surfaces  all year round, managing amenity areas efficiently and cost effectively, along with maintaining immaculate lawns for customers,” he adds.

“The Amenity Forum is delighted to work with ICL and Syngenta as the sponsors of this award and would like to congratulate Peter for upholding the highest of professional standards.”

Look out on the Amenity Forum website for more details and entry form for the launch of next year’s ASOOTY and your chance to win.

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Happy New Year start for Yanmar and BOSS

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Happy New Year start for Yanmar and BOSS: BOSS Off-Road Vehicles have kicked off the New Year with a great start, announcing their appointment as UK and Irelans distributors for Yanmar Agribusiness.

The contract was finalised at the recent EIMA exhibition in Bologna in November 2024 and they have been completing the final details since then. YANMAR was founded more than 100 years ago and states the corporation has been driven by a pioneering spirit for world-leading technology. Their key aim is realising a sustainable future through technological development; an ideal fit with BOSS’s own development as distributors of practical yet ecologically sustainable machinery for groundscare, agricultural, and amenity businesses. BOSS will use Yanmar Turkey Marine A.S. to manage sales and distribution of the Yanmar Agricultural equipment. They will focus initially on the compact range of tractors from 22hp to 60hp for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Happy New Year start for Yanmar and BOSS

Happy New Year start for Yanmar and BOSS

“We will be establishing a dealer network over the next few months,” says BOSS ORV Managing Director, Phil Everett, “so I will be pleased if interested dealers contact me directly for more information. Alternatively, visit us at the upcoming LAMMA Show exhibition at the NEC on the 15th to 16th of January, where we have our main stand No. 6.830 Hall 6 or the Yanmar Agri stand No.12.130 Hall 12, where there will be a BOSS representative on the stand. We are exceptionally happy to become the UK and Irelans Yanmar Agri distributors and share the same philosophies of striving to exceed customer expectations and deliver exceptional value while maintaining sustainable prosperity.”

BOSS has also announced the appointment of the first two dealers for Yanmar Agri, Neil Peachey and Used4Turf Ltd. In East Anglia and Phil Davey at Machine Serve in the South West of England.

For more information on BOSS products you can call 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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