HortWeek publisher Haymarket owner Lord Heseltine: "I look back with pride at HortWeek's prominent position at the heart of the horticultural world. I look forward with excitement to the journey that will build on its editorial and technical excellence as part of a horticultural family stretching across the world. Well done and congratulations."
Broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh CBE: "'HortWeek keeps everyone abreast of trends and developments with a view to making sure we can all remain relevant in an ever changing horticultural world. Congratulations on being 185 not out!. Horticulture is a sheet anchor in my life: a chance to connect with the real world, to do my best to beautify the landscape, even on a small scale, and to make a positive contribution to my bit of the planet."
Incoming HTA president Jane Lawler: "It’s extraordinary to think that HortWeek and its former incarnation The Gardeners Chronicle has been reflecting the development of Horticulture for so many years whilst most other periodicals have disappeared. Credit to the owners, contributors and editors who have adapted and innovated to keep the news, views and educational content relevant and readable for all of us working in the industry."
BOA chairman Derek Jarman: "Horticulture Week is the premier source of news for ornamental horticulture in an ever-changing world where life is getting harder day by the day. Matthew Appleby, Editor, keep us all informed, updated and educated to which we are all most grateful for his dedication to the industry. Matthew clearly isn't quite 185 years old, so there are others including Lord Heseltine to thank as well. Happy Birthday Horticulture Week."
Broadcaster and garden designer Bunny Guinness: "In my first job, as a Landscape Architect over 50 years ago, GC and HTJ as it was then known was circulated each week in the office. Obligatory reading, and Ive picked up many snippets of information that I still use. Including great pieces by Alan Mitchell on tree establishment, John Adlam on Pest and Diseases and of course now Matthew Appleby’s ability to bring us up to speed with what is happening in horticulture."
Landscaper Alan Sargent: "Horticulture Week has played an important part in my life for over thirty years. It helped me to launch The Association of Professional Landscapers in 1995. Editors including Pete Weston, Vicky Browning, Kate Lowe and Matthew Appleby have all been staunch supporters of my work in attempting to raise standards across the landscape industry."
Dove Associates' consultant John Adlam: "Growing up in the nursery industry I remember my grandfather reading the Gardeners Chronicle back in the 1950’s. It also had yellow pages of the Horticultural Trades Journal. Those two were combined and all through my college years I looked forward to the copies each week along with the Grower in my pigeonhole. It was statutory Friday night reading. Over the years with a host of editors, I can remember, the magazine has provided technical and newsworthy information to the industry, which I had the privilege of contributing to over many years. With the nursery industry embracing the digital age and AI in all its various forms it was inevitable that today’s Horticulture Week would go digital too. I must admit I do miss the paper pages as it is much harder to pick up and put down. I now need to read it at my desk, not the armchair, but at least Matt produces it daily. I wonder what my Grandfather would have thought to GC&HTJ being sent to him daily?"
Glendoick Gardens' Ken Cox: "HortWeek is a newcomer.. the real story is The Gardeners’ Chronicle which is 185 years old. Founded by two of the giants of Victorian Horticulture in John Lindley and Joseph Paxton and with contributions from Charles Darwin. It was The Gardeners Chronicle that I started reading in the early 1980s, when John Street was a provocative columnist. The magazine changed its name and has adapted over the last few years, adding podcasts, emails, online versions and a sense of mischief from editor Matthew Appleby who’s enthusiasm for the world of horticulture never seems to diminish. Here’s to the next 15 years and reaching the 200th anniversary. I’ll be retired by then…"
GIMA director Martin Ward: "Industries are built on more than products — they're built on the people who tell their story. HortWeek was there in 1978 when GIMA formed, chronicling every twist in our journey — from the first GIMA Awards in 1980 to the 45th edition in 2026, and the 1999 merger with the Garden Products Association that shaped the association we are today. For 185 years, it's been a constant, helping to promote and support the industry. Here's to 185 more."
EHG chair Boyd Douglas-Davies: "HortWeek has been a staple part of my work life for 40+ years now. It has always been good at covering the broadest range of subjects so gives a broad overview of all that is going on in environmental horticulture. I do miss the print edition but appreciate the team's enthusiasm to deliver news at the earliest opportunity via digital platforms. I see it as a very powerful publication for our industry and hope it continues to champion us all for many more years to come. Retaining its balanced stance is critical to ensure environmental horticulture is an industry that cam flourish Congratulations on 185 years and best wishes for the next few as you head towards your 200th birthday!"
Broadcaster David Domoney: "Horticulture Week is an informative and dedicated journal which has enlightened and inspired generations of professional horticulturists. It is a champion for the industry, with esteemed writers, many of them colleagues within the sector, weighing balanced commentary on the issues and challenges of our times in horticulture."
Ian Riggs: "Originally as a student studying horticulture with a keen interest in tomatoes, in the late 1970s I eagerly awaited the publication of the results of the Tomato Recording Scheme, a study of six UK tomato growing nurseries, showing light levels, varieties, energy usage, labour costs and cropping records, each week. This scheme was used by all UK tomato growers to benchmark their own performance. Later in the 1980s working for VHB, the scheme became the standard for measuring one s own performance as a grower. The scheme continued into the 90s, charting the great strides in controlling energy and labour costs and recorded the increase in production, the tonnes/acre, reflecting the advance of technology regarding irrigation and nutrition of crops as well as changes in growing media and crop training techniques, from the soil, to peat bags to inert substrates and NFT, from Guernsey arch to Layering. Today's tomato nurseries lean heavily on the results of the pioneering work of the Tomato Recording Scheme."
