The Big Plant Nursery: Cultivating Calm and Beauty
Henley Festival is renowned for its unique blend of arts and entertainment. Once again, a key element in enhancing the festival’s atmosphere comes from nature itself, in the form of lush greenery provided by The Big Plant Nursery.
Smart event planning goes beyond logistics; it’s about crafting an experience. A powerful, yet often overlooked element of any event is the strategic use of plants. Large plants in particular offer an immediate and dramatic impact, transforming spaces into havens of tranquillity amidst the energy of an event. Studies have shown that incorporating greenery can significantly reduce stress levels, improve focus, and foster a sense of well-being and creativity. These are benefits the Henley Festival organisers were keen to bring to their attendees by partnering with The Big Plant Nursery.
The Big Plant Nursery at Henley Festival 2024
Based in Twyford, The Big Plant Nursery sell large plants, trees, and shrubs of exceptional quality. Specialising in mature specimens that deliver instant visual impact, their knowledgeable team also provides valuable advice for garden or planting projects.
By collaborating with Henley Festival, The Big Plant Nursery aims to demonstrate the transformative power of plants and inspire festival attendees to enhance their home gardens. Visitors are likely to encounter plants they’ve never seen before as well as seeing how different plants compliment each other. It will be possible to see first-hand which combinations are visually appealing and, by bringing mature plants, how your garden could be instantly transformed.
So how do The Big Plant Nursery help the Henley Festival organisers transform the site? The team gets started at 6am to allow enough time to set up, before arriving in a convoy of eight vans. Over £15,000 worth of plants are delivered and distributed across the site which the dedicated team of nine experts meticulously arrange, ensuring optimal visual impact in each location.
The main displays were created in the Patrons Lounge, Riverside Restaurant and Sculpture Garden with smaller displays created in the Ruby Lounge, Entrance Tunnel and Hospitality Tipis. In 2024, the seamless communication and efficient teamwork applied to garden transformations was replicated to ensure the installation was completed with minimal disruption to other contractors—a standard they’re confident in maintaining this year.
Matthew Williamson, Director of The Big Plant Nursery, shares his passion for plants: “While our primary focus is on residential gardens, we are delighted to support the Henley Festival within our local community. We understand the profound impact of plants and, with our collection of large specimens, we are uniquely positioned to help the festival instantly transform areas of the site.
We hope to provide inspiration for maximising small spaces or adding interest to walls and fences. Our screening plants provide instant partitions between spaces at the event and can also be used at home to increase privacy or improve your view. Other plants we will bring create interest with colour, texture and scent. We hope festival attendees will appreciate the positive impact these natural elements bring as well as feeling inspired for their gardens at home.”
Jo Bausor, CEO of Henley Festival adds, “We recognise that incorporating greenery is not just about aesthetics; it’s a crucial element of effective event design. The impressive plants from The Big Plant Nursery allow us to define different areas within the festival grounds, offer pockets of privacy for our guests, and create a softer, more inviting ambience, ultimately contributing to a more memorable and enjoyable experience.”
Look out for the stunning plant installations throughout the Henley Festival this year, a testament to the power of nature and the expertise of The Big Plant Nursery.
The Big Plant nursery is based on Wargrave Road, Twyford and is open seven days a week. Visit www.thebigplantnursery.com for more information.