THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND ARBORETUM

Registered charity 274737 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS, THE HILLIER ARBORETUM, THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS

1. To preserve and develop one of the largest collections of hardy trees,shrubs and herbaceous perennials in the western temperate world.2.To maximise the plant collection's formal and informal education potential3. To be a significant contributor to conservation4. To meet the needs of an increasing number of visitors

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Recreation · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£3.6m
Latest spending
£4.2m
Registered
1978
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £537,956 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven largely by the full-year impact of transferring catering operations in-house. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £245,311, comprising a £160,000 designated reserve and an £85,311 development fund, while total net assets were valued at approximately £12.4 million. The trustees expressed confidence in the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, noting that risks are mitigated through reserves and income growth strategies.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: The SHHG’s reserves policy indicates the level of reserves the SHHG needs to operate effectively in accordance with its aims, needs and objectives considering potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time (held: £245k)
“The SHHG’s reserves policy indicates the level of reserves the SHHG needs to operate effectively in accordance with its aims, needs and objectives considering potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time” — page 27
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Hampshire County Council is a related party of the charitable trust as sole trustee. The Council provided a contribution of £193,772 in the year 2024/25 (2023/24 £166,184).
“Hampshire County Council is a related party of the charitable trust as sole trustee. The Council provided a contribution of £193,772 in the year 2024/25 (2023/24 £166,184).” — page 55
“Hampshire County Council charges SHHG annually for the provision of support functions including internal audit, banking, financial reporting, employment practice advice and other strategic support. The charge for 2024/25 is £59,008 (2023/24 is £56,521).” — page 55
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Hampshire County Council charges SHHG annually for the provision of support functions including internal audit, banking, financial reporting, employment practice advice and other strategic support. The charge for 2024/25 is £59,008 (2023/24 is £56,521).
“Hampshire County Council is a related party of the charitable trust as sole trustee. The Council provided a contribution of £193,772 in the year 2024/25 (2023/24 £166,184).” — page 55
“Hampshire County Council charges SHHG annually for the provision of support functions including internal audit, banking, financial reporting, employment practice advice and other strategic support. The charge for 2024/25 is £59,008 (2023/24 is £56,521).” — page 55
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Compass Accountants. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£3.6m
Total spending
£4.2m
Reserves (reported)
£245k
Employees
76

Reported reserves equal ~0.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (88% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Hampshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£3.6m£4.2m
31/03/2024£2.4m£2.6m
31/03/2023£2.0m£2.3m
31/03/2022£1.9m£2.0m
31/03/2021£2.7m£2.2m

Common questions

Is THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND ARBORETUM financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £537,956 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven largely by the full-year impact of transferring catering operations in-house. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £245,311, comprising a £160,000 designated reserve and an £85,311 development fund, while total net assets were valued at approximately £12.4 million. The trustees expressed confidence in the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, noting that risks are mitigated through reserves and income growth strategies. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Compass Accountants.

Who funds THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND ARBORETUM?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND ARBORETUM as a grant recipient include THE ELIZABETH CREAK CHARITABLE TRUST, G M MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST, SIR JEREMIAH COLMAN GIFT TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
UK government14/10/2020£925kCRF20 Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with BORDE HILL GARDEN LIMITED.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND ARBORETUM£3.6m——within—no doubt
BORDE HILL GARDEN LIMITED FY2025£678k—0unclear—no doubt
HAREWOOD HOUSE TRUST LIMITED FY2025£6.0m——below—noted
THE FRIENDS OF OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN & ARBORETUM FY2025£242k—0above—not going concern
THE HARDY PLANT SOCIETY FY2024£140k—0unclear—no doubt
THE ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION FY2025£1.7min excess of £70,0001unclear—material uncertainty

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.