2025: A Year of Extremes, Resilience and Record Demand

As the festive season approaches and we prepare for a well-deserved break, we're taking a moment to reflect on what has been an extraordinary year here at CGJ Mathias & Son Nurseries. From unprecedented weather challenges to record-breaking demand, 2025 has tested our resilience and reminded us why we love what we do.

A Summer to Remember (For All the Wrong Reasons)

If there's one word that defines 2025 for growers across the country, it's weather. The summer drought seemed relentless – we watched our fields grow drier by the day, with soil turning to what can only be described as dust. It was a challenging period that required constant vigilance and careful management of our stock.

When the autumn rain finally arrived in mid-October, just in time for rootballing season, the relief was palpable. Mother Nature had kept us waiting, but she delivered when it mattered most.

Record-Breaking Rootball Season

The slow summer created something of a perfect storm – in a good way. With sales naturally quieter during the hot, dry months, pent-up demand built steadily. By the time rootballing season arrived, we had pre-orders for record numbers of rootballs, well ahead of the season starting.

Since mid-October, our team has been working flat out, digging thousands upon thousands of rootballed hedging plants and trees from our fields. The dedication and hard work from everyone on the nursery has been nothing short of remarkable.

What's Been Flying Off the Fields?

While our staple hedging varieties continue to be popular, one plant has stood out as the star of 2025: Taxus baccata (English Yew). Being naturally tolerant of drier conditions, our Yew crops thrived despite the challenging summer. With increased production over recent years, we've had some fantastic crops this year – though many of our beds are now looking distinctly empty where rootballs have been lifted!

We've also seen strong demand for Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar), a tough hedging conifer that provides an excellent alternative to Leylandii for those seeking a fast-growing, dense screen.

Our ornamental specimen trees have had a particularly strong year too, especially in the 10-12cm stem girth range. Our team worked hard over summer to prune and prepare each tree to perfection. Favourites have included Betula utilis 'Jacquemontii' (Himalayan Birch), Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer', Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' and Hornbeam, alongside the dozens of other varieties we grow.

Growing Our Team

It's not just plants that have flourished this year – our team has grown too.

Henry, who joined us around 18 months ago, has recently completed the first year of his apprenticeship at Hadlow College. With one day a month in college learning theory and the rest of his time gaining hands-on experience here on the nursery, he's picked up an impressive amount of knowledge. You'll regularly spot him towing trailer loads of plants along the road back to our main yard – and his trailer reversing skills have become the stuff of legend! He's set to complete his apprenticeship in autumn 2026.

We were also delighted to welcome Piers to our outdoor production team this year. Having worked in various outdoor roles across the world before seeking a career in horticulture, he's brought enthusiasm and dedication to everything he does. Come rain or shine, Piers always has a smile on his face – though we're perhaps most impressed by his meticulous boot care routine. He puts the rest of us to shame with his regular waxing and cleaning!

Supporting Our Local Community

We're proud to continue our sponsorship of Tilford Cricket Club, based just half a mile down the road on what is reputed to be the second oldest village cricket ground in the country.

While the men's teams had a quieter season, a truly historic milestone was reached this year with the introduction of Tilford's first ever women's team. In their debut season, having never played together before, the ladies only went and won their league! A fantastic achievement that shows what can happen when a community comes together.

Read the full story about Tilford Ladies' championship win

Thank You

As a family business, we genuinely appreciate every single order, whether you're planting a single hedge or landscaping an entire estate. Your support means everything to us.

We'd like to thank all of you – our customers, suppliers and partners – for your business in 2025. As our hard-working team heads off for a well-earned Christmas break, we're already looking forward to working with you again in 2026.

From everyone at CGJ Mathias & Son Nurseries, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.