Hestercombe House and Gardens, Taunton, Somerset was the venue for the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Grand Final.
As the winner of this year’s competition, Jonathan Zerr receives the £2,500 Percy Thrower Travel Bursary provided by the Percy Thrower Trust, which he will be able to use to fund a horticultural venture anywhere in the world.
Jonathan holds an RHS Level 4 Diploma and is currently splitting his time between Helmingham Hall and Benton End in Suffolk where he is working towards his aspiration of managing historic plant collections and fostering cultural heritage and biodiversity within a historic garden setting.
Second place went to Scotland Regional Finalist, James Douglass. James is currently a 4th year BSc (Hons) Horticulture and Plantsmanship student at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Scotland’s Rural College, conducting his honours project on a fungal pathogen of Scots Pine at Forest Research. Once he has finished his degree, he will be joining the RBGE teaching team.
Third place was picked up by the West Midlands and South Wales Regional Finalist, Lawrence Western. Lawrence is currently employed as a Professional Work Placement student in the Kitchen Garden at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington.
Runners up (in no particular order)
Frank Cooke, North-West North Wales Region. Frank is currently studying towards his RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture at Myerscough College in Preston, Lancashire. Frank is only 16 and the youngest person ever to have reached a Grand Final.
Chloe Callanan, Ireland Branch. Chloe is currently in her second year of a Horticulture degree ran in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and is undertaking her placement with O’Brien Landscaping in Dublin City Centre.
Lucy Whitehead, Northern Region. Lucy is currently a Gardener at Auckland Castle which is undergoing an exciting redevelopment by Pip Morrison. Her role includes caring for the 17th Century walled garden, which produces seven tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually for the local community.
Al Coffey, South-East Region. Al is a third-year student on the Kew Diploma in Botanical Horticulture, currently working in the Alpine/Rock Garden section.
Sam Hickmott, South-West Region. Sam is currently the head gardener at Lytes Cary Manor and Tintinhull Garden, two National Trust arts and crafts inspired gardens. He is the youngest Head-Gardener in the National Trust.
