Excitement blossomed at Hadlow College recently as green-fingered enthusiasts from across the South-East battled it out in the South East regional finals of of the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition. Run by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture the competition offers a platform for budding horticulturalists to showcase their expertise and connect with fellow enthusiasts from the UK and Ireland.
The eight competitors taking part had already made it through the first heat, an online test with 40 questions on topics covering areas such as plant identification, soils, plant maintenance, turf, propagation and garden history.
The regional final saw the competitors being asked questions by an adjudication panel, before a plant identification and pest round took place with the fastest person to buzz in getting the chance to answer and score points.
The winning contestant goes through to the Grand Final being held in May, where the overall winner receives the £2,500 Percy Thrower Travel Bursary, to fund a horticultural trip anywhere in the world. Second place prize is £950, third place £550 and the rest of the runners up all receive £200, and each of the finalists is also awarded membership to the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
Previous winners have visited Borneo, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the Himalayas, and the Galapagos Islands to name just a few!
Hadlow College Senior Horticulture Skills Trainer Gareth Batts, who was on the adjudication panel, was delighted with how the evening went, saying: “I am pleased that Hadlow were able to support this competition in holding the regional finals. During the event it was great to showcase the horticulture opportunities that we offer at Hadlow and to give tours to the wider industry showing the collaborative projects that we are undertaking. The gardens were open for visitors to explore and discussions regarding our new orchard took place.
You can find out more about the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition on the Chartered Institute of Horticulture website.
If you are interested in studying the subject at Hadlow College, visit the Horticulture subject page of the College website.