Heritage Glasshouse and Greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has been recognised in this year’s prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for its work growing sales of its English, handmade structures abroad.

The Lancashire-based, 83 year old business has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category, for Outstanding Short Term Growth following a 144 percent increase in its overseas sales over the last three years, and the subsequent transformation of its strongest markets. The US has now overtaken its domestic demand, to become the manufacturer’s dominant market, and the business has subsequently broken into four additional international markets.

Hartley Botanic is a historic English business, specialising in luxury, bespoke and handmade aluminium Glasshouses and Greenhouses. Operating from the same factory in Greenfield, Lancashire since 1938, the company has earned an unrivalled reputation for crafting ‘the finest Glasshouses and Greenhouses money can buy.’ The business has been selling its Glasshouses and Greenhouses internationally for over 20 years and has enjoyed a strong following for a number of years in the US, Germany and Scandinavia, but in the last three years, its global trade has built significantly. Since 2017, international sales have grown 144 percent, transforming the company’s strongest markets.

Its exponential international growth has meant the UK has now been replaced by the US as Hartley Botanic’s dominant market, as American customers fall for both the businesses’ quintessentially English-looking Victorian Glasshouses and its contemporary Modern Horticulture range which has proved particularly popular in the state of California. The next strongest markets for the business are now Germany, Italy, Ireland and Portugal. The company has also broken into completely new international markets, namely Italy, Norway, Slovakia and Estonia. Hartley Botanic wins the Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over three years.

Martin Toogood, Chairman of Hartley Botanic said; “From our historic factory, tucked away at the base of Lancashire’s dramatic Pennines’ Chew Valley, our Glasshouses are handmade by a local team ready to be shipped across the globe. We couldn’t be more proud of the fact that our Glasshouses and Greenhouses are now being enjoyed by gardeners worldwide, and are thrilled to receive such a prestigious business accolade. For many, Glasshouses are intrinsically linked to a romantic, comforting notion of Englishness and our 83 year old business, with its incomparable range and commitment to traditional craftsmanship, is perfectly placed to deliver this.”

Founded by brothers Vincent (RHS fellow) and Norman Hartley, the company was (to its knowledge) the first to develop and make entirely aluminium Greenhouse structures, marking a huge improvement on its wood and wrought iron Victorian forerunners. Since then, Hartley Botanic has built a name and reputation amongst the horticultural elite synonymous with excellence, thanks to its incomparable range, its structurally superior Greenhouses which ‘last a lifetime’ and its exceptional service delivery. In February 2017 Hartley Botanic became the only aluminium Glasshouse and Greenhouse manufacturer to be endorsed by the RHS. It is the Greenhouse manufacturer of choice for leading horticulture organisations, institutions and designers in the UK and worldwide with Hartley Botanic commissioned by the RHS, the National Trust, Kew Gardens, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Oxford Botanical Gardens, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Blenheim Palace, The Lingholm Estate and Hampton Court Palace...to name a few.

‘Why Hartley?’

Unrivalled. Unparalleled. Unique. There are Glasshouses, and there are Hartley Botanic Glasshouses. Combining inspired design with enduring quality, nothing quite enhances your garden like a Hartley Botanic. The manufacturer prides itself on five key pillars of service which sets it apart:

1. Beauty and Elegance

The incomparable range of simply beautiful and elegant structures means Hartley Botanic can create designs that are distinctive and unique. The Victorian, Heritage and Modern Glasshouse ranges are so comprehensive you don’t have to go anywhere else to find your beautifully crafted, high-quality Glasshouses from the widest of choices.

2. Structurally Superior

Every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse is handmade in the North of England to your exact requirements. It is made of the finest materials with unparalleled durability, safety, and beauty. All of the aluminium sections have a structural purpose. Short cuts, such as ‘sticking’ aluminium to glass for aesthetic reasons, are never taken. Hartley Botanic are so confident of the structural integrity of their Greenhouses; a 30-year Lifetime Guarantee is offered.

3. A Reputation Beyond Compare

Hartley Botanic’s brand heritage and reputation have been built on trust for over 80 years. They have earned an unrivalled reputation for crafting the finest Glasshouses and Greenhouses money can buy through the very highest standards of hard-won experience, craftsmanship and service.

4. Unrivalled Knowledge and Expertise

There is a wealth of knowledge and expertise built into every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse. Generations of customers have put their trust in the hands of expert, time served, highly skilled craftsmen. Glasshouses of distinction are created from decades of knowledge and care.

5. Exceptional Delivery of Service

Once your order has been handmade to your personal requirements, and Hartley Botanic’s exacting standards, your delivery and installation will be exceptional. The proud team at Hartley Botanic are there to ensure the process runs smoothly, providing you with the information you need and keeping you up to date throughout.

All Hartley Botanic’s Glasshouses and Greenhouses are handmade, bespoke and made to order. Customers interested in purchasing a Hartley Botanic Greenhouse should visit: http://www.hartley-botanic.co.uk or call 01457 819 155 for more information.