Somerset gardener highly commended for topiary hedges

Hugh Johnson, from Great Elm, near Frome, was highly commended for his garden's display of intricate sculptured shapes in the 2024 inaugural Topiary Awards, hosted by Henchman, the garden ladder experts.

Hugh's garden includes a variety of traditional topiary designs, such as spiral and cone shapes, punctuated with vibrant purple flowers to add a splash of colour. It was entered into the "home gardener" category.   

The competition, launched by Henchman to celebrate and honour the centuries-old tradition of shaping living sculptures from plants, has drawn entries from across Britain.

The winning entry in the Home Gardener Category went to David Hawson from Aberdeenshire, whose design features a whimsical scene featuring countryside animals and marine creatures carefully sculpted into a continuous hedge, resulting in a high-impact horizon.

Divided by a central archway, the design artfully contrasts earthbound creatures with those of the sea, creating a striking dual landscape that captivates with its charm and symmetry. 

This remarkable topiary creation began forty-five years ago as three-inch yew seedlings, initially planted as a natural barrier to keep livestock out of the garden.

Reflecting inspiration from Herman Neville's “Moby Dick”, the topiary features scenes from the novel, including the stern of Captain Ahab’s ship and Queequeg poised to harpoon the great white whale.

David’s expert techniques, like plaiting stems and utilising the sun’s changing angles, enhance the garden’s enchanting atmosphere. He hopes that this living form of art brings a smile to all who pass by. 
 
 In second place is Petra Hoyer-Millar from Oxfordshire, whose design features a series of perfectly clipped hedges crafted into large, rounded shapes that flow sinuously to create a cloud-like effect, guiding the eye along their length with artistic precision and skill. 
  
Taking home first prize in the Professional Gardener Category is Harrie Carnochan from West Sussex.

Harrie maintains this topiary garden, the immaculate symmetry wowed the judges, with Harrie’s expert attention to detail and skill evident in the high-impact finish.

Small topiary balls sit atop perfectly sculpted columns to welcome visitors to the garden, with rounded trees standing proudly around the lawn.
 
In second place is Suffolk-based Chris Reeve, whose topiary creation brings a touch of magical enchantment to any garden. The design features a carefully crafted frog that seems ready to leap into life.

Its intricate details include rounded eyes, a pronounced mouth and gracefully arched limbs, showcasing exceptional skill, creativity and a keen eye for detail. 
 
Recognised for his charming and lifelike depiction of two dogs, the highly commended award goes to Simon Newman from Worcestershire. These intricately sculpted canine figures demonstrate a high level of topiary artistry and creativity, and provide the perfect welcome to this dog-lover’s home.     
  
The Henchman Choice Award, voted for by the Henchman team, goes to Bedfordshire-based Keith Miles for his impressive life-size tractor sculpture crafted from densely trimmed shrubs.

The lush greenery creates a striking three-dimensional form complete with the figure of a person sitting proudly behind the steering wheel, resulting in an unmistakable depiction of the agricultural machine. 
 
The winners were announced at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, where they received a trophy, a bundle of Henchman products, an annual membership to the European Boxwood and Topiary Society and a day trip for two to one of the EBTS UK’s day-long garden trips. 

Clare Lenaghan-Balmer, Head of Marketing at Henchman, said: "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Henchman Topiary Awards and to recognise their exceptional talent and passion for topiary.

"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."

The entries were evaluated on a comprehensive set of criteria designed to assess their creativity, craftsmanship, and overall impact, by an esteemed panel of topiary experts and horticulturalists including; 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 at Henchman.