Wiltshire ladder brand Henchman holds first Topiary Awards to mark 30 years

Henchman, a Melksham-based supplier of garden ladders and safety platforms, has held its inaugural Topiary Awards to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.

The competition, honouring the age-old tradition of shaping living sculptures from plants, drew entries from across the UK.

Entries were judged on creativity, craftsmanship and overall impact by a panel of topiary experts and horticulturalists.

They were Elizabeth Hilliard, editor of European Boxwood and Topiary Society (EBTS) magazine TOPIARIUS; Michael Buck, head of horticulture at Creepers Nursery; Andy Bourke, professional topiarist better known as The Hedge Barber; and Owen Simpson, managing director of Henchman.

The winners were announced at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival, where they received a trophy, a bundle of Henchman products, an annual membership to the EBTS and tickets for two to one of the society’s day-long garden trips.

“We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the Henchman Topiary Awards and to recognise their exceptional talent and passion for topiary,” said Clare Lenaghan-Balmer, head of marketing at Henchman. 

“We were blown away by the quality of submissions – both in the Professional and Home Gardener category – so much so that the judges have selected a first-place winner, second place, and a highly commended, as well as the Henchman’s Choice award.

“Each winning sculpture is a testament to the creativity and skill that’s out there across Britain.”

Taking home first prize in the Professional Gardener category was Harrie Carnochan from West Sussex, with an immaculately symmetrical layout featuring small topiary balls atop perfectly sculpted columns.

Chris Reeve from Suffolk took second place for his topiary frog, which showcased ‘exceptional skill, creativity and a keen eye for detail’, while Simon Newman from Worcestershire was highly commended for his ‘charming and lifelike’ depiction of two dogs.

First place for the Home Gardener category went to David Hawson from Aberdeenshire, who put together a scene featuring countryside animals and marine creatures carefully sculpted into a continuous hedge.

The creation began 45 years ago as three-inch yew seedlings, initially planted as a natural barrier to keep livestock out of the garden.

Petra Hoyer-Millar from Oxfordshire took second place for her design, with perfectly clipped hedges crafted into large, rounded, ‘cloud-like’ shapes, and Hugh Johnson from Somerset was highly commended for his spirals and cones punctuated with vibrant purple flowers.

And finally, the Henchman’s Choice Award, voted for by the Henchman team, went to Bedfordshire-based Keith Miles for his life-size tractor sculpture crafted from densely trimmed shrubs, with a person sat proudly behind the steering wheel.