Six Horticultural students have recently taken part in the Student Development Tour which forms part of the Smart Garden Products Scholarship run by the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. The students, all winners of the 2025 award, had the opportunity to see the working of six very different aspects of the horticultural industry:
- Retail – Baytree Garden Centre, Spalding
- Commercial Plant Production – Bridge Farm Horticulture
- Field Crop Production of Bulbs for retail – Taylors Bulbs, Holbeach
- Ornamental Horticulture and Gardens - Springfields Festival Gardens, Spalding
- Horticutural Science and Research – Bridge Farm Bioscience
- Product Creation, Development and Wholesale Distribution – Smart Garden Products
The objective of the tour, led by four Trustees of the Foundation, is to give students the opportunity to see firsthand a variety of aspects of commercial horticulture in action. From walking the bulb fields, where daffodils are being harvested for sale in garden centres and other retail outlets this autumn, to the cutting edge latest technology in plant science, or getting an understanding for the supply chain from innovation to finished product and distribution to retailers at Smart Garden Products, through this scholarship students get, “real world insights of modern horticulture” said David Dowd, Head of Horticulture at CAFRE in Northern Ireland.
Marion Durose, CEO, Springfields Horticultural Society who manage the Festival Gardens in Spalding said: “It was great to meet the students and trustees. I am very passionate about education and signposting for students about the careers and opportunities in the horticultural sector, so thank you for bringing the students to see the Festival Gardens”
The scholarship scheme, supported financially by Paris Natar and the team at Smart Garden, who have been innovative in their creation and support of these students, recognise the importance of their customers – garden centres – having access to well qualified, skilled horticulturalists in the future hence being the catalyst in this opportunity.
Bridge Farm Bioscience is at the forefront of plant research and development in the UK. Their industry leading experts in cultivation, extraction, and plant chemistry have been applying their knowledge alongside the latest technology and innovation, to harness the transformative properties of plants and were keen to share some of their knowledge with the students, stimulating the comment from Emmeline Yourston an apprentice Crop Technician at Bransford Webbs who is studying at Pershore Horticultural Collage: “It was inspiring to see UK academic research put into practical, commercial horticultural applications, further examples of career diversity in the industry.”
As well as the opportunity to expand their knowledge, a further objective of the Student Development Tour is helping people extend their network of contacts in the industry. Sandy Carney, studying for her BSc in Horticulture at CAFRE said: “Through strong relationship-building, encouraging team-driven innovation and embracing significant risks, no wonder Smart Garden Products have achieved the impressive turnover growth and reputation they have. We can all learn from their belief in considered product selection, solid customer relationships and streamlined distribution.”
The application season for the 2026 scholarship awards will be open in the autumn of this year and students wanting to apply for these and other scholarship opportunities can find further details on the charity’s website www.colegraveseabrookfoundtion.org.uk where information for companies who would like to be involved with the work of the Foundation can also find details.
The comment from one participant sums up the whole experience best. Nicole Harding a Crop Technician Apprentice at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford and studying at Pershore College said: “This tour was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so honoured that I was given the chance to experience everything we saw on the tour organised by the Foundation and Smart Garden Products."
Roger Seabrook, one of the Foundations Trustees supporting this year’s tour, expressed his gratitude to all the companies and their people who so willingly gave up their time to devote to the students, and to Smart Garden Products for their support, without whom, this would just not happen. “These students are the future of our industry; they need and deserve our support.” he said.
