The Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) has announced the launch of the Young Horticulturist of the Year 2021 competition, with the first round being offered free and online to anyone below the age of 30 on September 30 2021 working and/ or studying in horticulture in the UK and Ireland.
Competitors will be able to register on the website from May 10th and then take part in Round One any time during the week beginning May 17 2021.
There are prizes up for grabs at each level of the competition, including the prestigious Percy Thrower Trust Bursary of £2500 for the overall winner.
The CIH has also provisionally confirmed that the Grand Final will be at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh’s Logan Botanic Gardens, near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, on September 4th 2021.
The Shropshire Horticultural Society/Percy Thrower Trust continue to be the main sponsors, with Bord Bia supporting the competition in Ireland. For 2021, Adrian Stockdale, current Editor of the ‘Plant Names Simplified’ reference book, will be providing a copy of the book for each of the eight Regional Final winners.