Hillier Trees for Maggie’s new cancer support centre
Hillier Trees is proud to have supplied more than 100 British-grown trees, helping achieve a tranquil oasis for visitors to the new Maggie’s cancer centre in the grounds of the University Hospital Southampton
The new Maggie’s in Southampton, which opened in 2021, is the first in the South of England. With around 10,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the central south coast area of England each year, there was a clear need in the region for Maggie’s free support for those living with cancer as well as their family and friends.
More like a Home
Maggie’s are created with the intention to feel more like a home than a hospital. Great architecture and beautifully landscaped surroundings are a vital part of this.
Hillier saw how they could use their horticultural expertise to offer support and provided more than 100 British-grown trees from the company’s nurseries in Hampshire at no profit to the company, which are all now in place for visitors to enjoy.
Naturalistic Tree Forms
Tree species to spot throughout the garden at the centre include Betula pendula (silver birch), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain ash), Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry) and Prunus avium (wild cherry). Many of these are multi-stem or more naturalistic forms, as opposed to a more traditional neat clipped form.
Supplier partners of Hillier Garden Centres also offered their support for this project, including Westland, who donated 12 pallets of mulch.
Generous support was also given by Platipus Anchors, who provided all the tree anchors used to support and stabilise the trees at a reduced cost, as well as making a company donation towards Maggie’s centres.