It all began with a trip to Auckland to help a friend move house.
Driving through Auckland’s eastern suburbs, Andrew Bowman couldn’t help but notice the higgledy-piggledy mix of wooden and tin fences, walls, beautiful hedges, and a few hedge wannabes.
The houses framed by beautiful hedges looked like homes—peaceful, welcoming retreats from the suburban hubbub. By contrast, those with solid wooden fences felt cold, hard, and, to be honest, uninviting.
Then came Andrew’s epiphany: what if people could have ready-made, mature hedges—without the fuss or the wait?
Homes could be transformed instantly, gardens could become havens, and all would be right with the world.
And so, the Living Walls™ instant hedge was born.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Horticulture from Massey University. His career has spanned engineering, garden retail, landscape contracting, and, for the past 25+ years, plant growing.
Drawing on this blend of nursery, landscaping, and engineering expertise—and his passion for hedges—Andrew developed the system that became our award-winning instant hedge: Living Walls™ – Hedges in a Hurry.
Together, Andrew and his wife Lisa—who holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland—own and operate Twining Valley Nurseries in the magnificent Mangatāwhiri Valley, just south of Auckland.
Along the way, they’ve enjoyed the support of the wider Bowman family—Wayne, Jenny, James, Jamie, and Sophie—and a dedicated team of passionate hedge growers at Twining Valley Nurseries.
The idea for instant hedges took root, and planting of Living Walls™ – Hedges in a Hurry began.
Winner of the Scotts Innovation Award from the Nursery & Garden Industry Association (now NZPPI) for Living Walls™ – Hedges in a Hurry, recognised as a truly innovative and unique hedge solution.
Became one of the first four New Zealand nurseries accredited under the NIASA Plant Health Accreditation Scheme, and EcoHort certified for environmental stewardship.
From humble beginnings with just 5km of hedge capacity in 2006, the nursery expanded to an impressive 25km—a testament to growing demand for their instant hedges nationwide.
