By Isle of Wight Observer
By Roz Whistance
A huge gap in the history of The Harold Hillier Award, which honours an Isle of Wight horticulturist each year, has finally been filled.
Simon and Debs Goodenough were presented with the award by the chairman of the Ventnor Botanic Garden Friends’ Society (VBGFS), Val Pitts, along with former chairman, Sally Peake, and long-time secretary, Rosemary Stewart.
From 1986 until 2011, Simon Goodenough was curator at Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG) and instigated VBGFS, a charitable organisation which raises money for projects within the garden. His wife, Debs, was nursery manager, also looking after volunteers, and was responsible for establishing the seed collecting and packaging group.
Debs later moved to Osborne as head gardener before taking up a similar position at Highgrove for (the then) Prince Charles.
Sir Harold Hillier was a renowned horticulturalist who, in 1970, was instrumental in transforming Steephill Pleasure Gardens into botanical gardens, donating many rare plants from his own collection. The award set up, in his memory, is presented for outstanding contribution to horticulture on the Isle of Wight.
Making the presentation to Simon and Debs, Val Pitts said: “This fills a huge gap in our Harold Hillier hall of fame. The Goodenoughs are now retired but their legacy at VBG very much lives on.”
Soon after Simon and Debs arrived, the Island had a summer drought, followed by the first of two hurricanes in the winter of 1987. The garden was devastated, losing much of its content. Simon took the opportunity to develop a very different garden, with naturalistic planting of flora grouped by their place of origin. The regional gardens which now exist – Mediterranean, Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa and America – were the result. He went on to become curator of The National Botanic Garden of Wales, and then estate manager at Folly Farm in Berkshire.
Now retired, and living in Chillerton, the couple have set about looking after the borders on the village green, introducing exotic and interesting plants. They also help a team of gardening volunteers on four more community sites across the parish.
