It’s green fingers on the buzzers at ARU Writtle
University hosts regional final of Young Horticulturist of the Year competition
Six of East Anglia’s finest young horticulturists will battle it out at ARU Writtle this Saturday (21 March) in the Eastern Regional Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition.
The prestigious national competition run by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture is open to anyone studying or working in horticulture under the age of 30, and three of the six regional finalists this year – Lucy Carr, Boris Shaw and Rhys Green – are current Writtle students.
In addition to plant identification, the finalists will be tested on their knowledge of pests, weeds and diseases. They will then face questions in the quickfire rounds on topics including horticultural practice, managed landscape and design, ornamental and amenity horticulture and sustainability.
Anglia Ruskin University’s Writtle campus, located just outside Chelmsford, is a leading centre for agricultural and horticultural courses at college, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Brendon Sims, Young Horticulturist of the Year Eastern Regional Organiser, said:
“We’re very grateful to our hosts at ARU Writtle. With its rich horticultural history and distinguished alumni, Writtle is such a fitting venue in which to put our finalists through their paces. The competition opens the doors to some fantastic future career opportunities.
“Last year’s Eastern Regional Final winner, Charlotte Hayden, completed the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme at Audley End House and Gardens and has since embarked on the prestigious National Trust Sissinghurst Scholarship.”
Alex Denham, Curriculum Team Leader for Wildlife, Conservation and Horticulture at ARU Writtle, said:
“We’re delighted that three of the six regional finalists of this revered national competition are our own Writtle students. They’ve already tested their mettle in the online round of the competition.
“To have them come through to the regional final here at Writtle is testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the students themselves and their tutors. I couldn’t be prouder and wish each of them the very best of luck for the next round.”
The three other regional finalists are from the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, the Markshall Estate and Woburn Abbey Gardens.
The Eastern Region winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to take to the stage at the Grand Final at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday, 16 May. The overall national winner will win the Percy Thrower Travel Bursary of £2,500 to fund horticultural related travel, study or work experience anywhere in the world.
Further information about the competition is available at https://www.horticulture.org.uk/young-horticulturist-of-the-year