Young Horticulturist of the Year 2014 competition

There is still time compete in the Institute of Horticulture Young Horticulturist of the Year (YHoY) 2014 competition. Prizes valued at more than £10,000 are on offer, including the coveted £2,000 Percy Thrower Travel Bursary prize for the winner, provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society which also generously sponsors the Grand Final.

The Bursary funds a study trip anywhere in the world. The competition is open to any horticulturist who is below the age of 30 on 31 July 2014 including professional horticulturists and anyone studying for a horticultural qualification. There are three ways to take part: attend a heat at a venue in your local area; in your work place, with an Institute of Horticulture approved supervisor; or via Skype. The closing date for entries is 25 February. For more information and a trial run of some previous heat questions visit: http://www.horticulture.org.uk/page.php?pageid=562

This year’s competition is forecast to be the biggest ever, with well over 2,000 young horticulturists participating. The heats, to test entrants’ range of horticultural knowledge, are taking place now across Great Britain and Ireland, in the form of 40 multi-choice questions, via a PowerPoint presentation. The heats will then be followed by eight Regional Finals, held in March, which culminate in the Grand Final on 10 May at the John Innes Centre, Norwich (www.jic.ac.uk).

2013 winner, Jez Stamp, said ‘It was an excellent competition that highlights all the exciting opportunities that horticulture has to offer as a career. Plants are my passion. I have thrown myself in 100% and am proud to have won this competition. My travel bursary will give me a chance to continue my studies of woody plants and I will be looking at Western China and Taiwan as possible locations.’

Total sponsorship this year has exceeded £20,000 for the first time. The Shropshire Horticultural Society is the major sponsor, who through the Percy Thrower Trust, provide the Travel Bursary prize and also the considerable sponsorship of the Grand Final. 2014 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the signing of the agreement between the Institute of Horticulture and the Percy Thrower Trust.

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