Eight finalists, one from each of the Institute’s branches, have got through local heats and regional finals to compete for the title and the Percy Thrower Travel Bursary of £2,000, awarded by the Shropshire Horticultural Society.
There are cash prizes for all finalists as well as other prizes, totalling more than £15,000 for those who have taken part in the heats and regional finals. The grand final will be live streamed from 11:00am at http://gordonn.camstreams.com
Finalists include:
- Rosie Kippen - BSc (Hons) student at Writtle College and Nursery Assistant, representing the Eastern Branch;
- Stephen Walsh - student at Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, representing the Ireland Branch;
- Lawrence Wright - student gardener, Historic and Botanic Garden Bursary Scheme, at Chatsworth House, representing the North West and North Wales Branch;
- Chris Parsons - Self-employed gardener, East Durham College, representing the Northern Branch;
- Lachlan Rae - student, HND in Horticulture with Plantsmanship, at SRUC Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, representing the Scotland Branch;
- Kristina Vandenberg - student of the RHS Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, Wisley, representing the South East Branch;
- Guy Jones - Owner of Emotive Landscapes, representing the West Midlands and South Wales Branch;
- Jessica Evans - Jessica Evans, National Trust (Tintinhull), representing the South West Branch.
Dr Dee Rawsthorne, Public Engagement Manager, John Innes Centre, said "We are proud of our heritage and equally proud to be associated with this prestigious event.
Institute of Horticulture president Leigh Morris said "The Institute of Horticulture Young Horticulturist of the Year competition is fantastic and one of the best programmes the IoH delivers to engage with, support and promote our talented young horticulturists in the UK and Ireland."
Institute Fellow David Domoney FI Hort will be this year’s grand final quiz master.
