The Grand Final for the 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition took place on Saturday 6th May at the prestige Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The college is one of the old colleges, founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. It was a close-run contest with Lewis Barrett, South-East and James Douglass, Scotland running neck and neck for most of the rounds, however, it was Lewis who won through by a margin of just 3 points, to take this year’s prize!
Lewis is in his third year of the Kew Diploma, at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, and will be joining the Great Broad Walk Team following his Kew Diploma. He completed his level 2 and 3 RHS Diploma’s at Hadlow and Capel Manor College as well as running his own garden maintenance and landscaping business in Kent. Lewis has a keen interest in herbaceous perennials and ecologically informed planting, both with a view to climate change and environmental resilience.
As the winner of this year’s competition, Lewis receives the £2,500 travel bursary provided by the Percy Thrower Trust, which he will be able to use to fund a horticultural venture anywhere in the world.
Second place went to James Douglass, Scotland. James is currently in his third year of the BSc Horticulture and Plantsmanship at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, while he works part time at Damhead Nursery, Lothianburn. James has recently completed a research project for the Botanic Gardens Conservation International conservation charity on Australasian tree species and hopes to specialise in plant health research in both horticulture and agriculture after graduating.
Third place went to Daisy Baggs, South-West. Daisy is a gardener with the ornamental team at the prestige The Newt in Somerset a public garden and hotel. Here Daisy is involved with maintenance and development of the formal areas of planting, taking garden tours and assisting with garden events. Previously to this she worked in Cumbria doing garden maintenance in a mixture of residential properties and large private gardens, alongside studying for the RHS Level 2 and 3 qualifications. Daisy has a keen interest in trees, ericaceous shrubs and woodland perennials. She will be joining the Kew Diploma later this year.
