Henchman Topiary Awards logo

Professional Gardener Award Category 

Professional submissions:
We are categorising professionals as anyone who is paid to create and/ or maintain Topiary work. If you are entering as a professional, you will not be able to submit an entry in the Home Gardeners category.
Professional Gardeners can submit multiple entries (max 5), they will have to fill in separate award entries for each piece they wish to submit.

Enter the awards in four easy steps: 

  1. Fill in your personal details 
  2. Upload up to 5 photos from different angles of your topiary
  3. Tell us about your topiary! Write a short about your topiary masterpiece  
  4. Press submit! 

Topiary Awards | Professional Gardener


Frequently Asked Questions

What is topiary?
Topiary is the art of clipping shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes. 
What is classed as 'one piece of topiary work' to submit in one entry?

One piece of work can be: a single plant of topiary, a matching pair or a set as part of a larger display feature; which will be judged as one complete entry.

Can I submit more than one piece of topiary?
 You can submit up to 5 individual pieces of topiary, however, you will need to fill in 5 separate applications. 
I’m a professional gardener/ topiarist, can I enter the home gardener category?

If you are paid to create, manage, or maintain any form of topiary, you will not be eligible to enter the home gardener category. 

After I submit my entry, what happens next?

Your submission will be presented to the judging panel after 31st May 2024, with no identifying information as you’ll be judged blindly. A winner from each category will be contacted by the end of June 2024.

Who are the judges?
Our judging panel consists of Elizabeth Hilliard (Editor of European Boxwood and Topiary Society TOPIARIUS magazine), Andy Bourke (AKA The Hedge Barber, Professional Topiarist), Michael Buck (Head of Horticulture at Creepers Nursery) and Owen Simpson (Managing Director at Henchman Ltd).
What is the judging criteria for the Topiary Awards?

 All entries will be marked against skill, attention to detail and creativity. For Professionals, you will need to demonstrate a knowledge of the plant including plant health. 

Who is classified as a professional gardener?

A professional gardener is anyone who is paid for their topiary work. 

Who is classified as a home gardener?

A home gardener is anyone who creates topiary as a hobby in their own garden.

Henchman Topiary Awards Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions
  1. Entries are open to UK residents only and you must be over the age of 18 years old.
  2. The awards are not open to Henchman's employees, or any other company linked to the giveaway.
  3. By entering the awards the entrant agrees for Henchman to contact them via email about the Topiary Awards.
  4. All topiary photos submitted may be published on the Henchman and European Boxwood and Topiary Society websites, social media platforms, online and printed publications (specifically TOPIARIUS magazine).
  5. The winners of the Henchman Topiary Awards must agree to be featured with interview and photographs. The winners will be only identified by first name and county, and if they wished, they could be photographed so that their face is not visible.

Awards Entry Period

  1. The competition runs from Wednesday 20th March 2024 – Friday 31st May 2024.

How to Enter

  1. You will be allowed up to five submissions, however, you must complete five separate entry forms.
  2. For entries to be valid, the entrant must have completed all mandatory fields on the entry form.
  3. No purchase is necessary; entries are free to submit.

Prizes

  1. The prizes are subject to availability and may change at any time without prior notice. The contents of the prize may differ from the product depicted in the images used in the advertising and the awards pages.
  2. Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable, non-refundable, and no cash alternative is available.

Awards Details

  1. Entries must be submitted by the 31st May 2024 to be valid.
  2. Entries will be judged blind meaning all identifying information will be remove when they are sent to the judges.
  3. Winners will be announced at Hampton Court Flower Festival (2nd-7th July). The winners will be invited to attend to receive their prizes and a trophy and there will also be a photo opportunity with the judging panel.
  4. All entrants will receive communication about the winner’s week commencing the 8th July 2024.

The Winners

  1. The winners will be contacted by Henchman Ltd via phone and email provided in the entry submission by the end of June.
  2. The winner will have 7 days to respond to accept their prize. During this 7-day timeframe, if the winner does not get in touch, Henchman Ltd will attempt to make 2 further attempts at contact. Failure to accept their prize will result in another winner being selected.
  3. The result is final and no correspondence will be entered into, except with the winners.

Henchman Ltd shall have the right, at its sole discretion and at any time, to change or modify these terms and conditions, such change shall be effective immediately upon posting to this webpage.