The Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s 2016 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition got under way this week

Young horticulturists who will be under 30 by July 31 2016 can enter, with the chance to win a £2,500 travel bursary from The Percy Thrower Trust, provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society.

Heats around the UK and Ireland are open to students of horticulture and young horticultural professionals working in the industry. The bursary allows the winner to undertake a trip, anywhere in the world to study a subject related to their chosen field of horticulture.

Applicants can take part by attending one of the heats at colleges and venues throughout the Institute’s eight branches; at a work-place with a Chartered Institute of Horticulture approved supervisor or via SKYPE. Closing date for entries is 1 February 2016.

The competition is run in three phases: local heats, regional finals and the Grand Final, each with questions covering a wide range of subjects. Heat winners go forward to one of eight regional finals, and the winner of each regional final progresses to the Grand Final on 7 May 2016 at the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Dublin. There are cash prizes at every stage of the competition.

More than 1,800 young horticulturists from the UK and Ireland competed for the title last year. Since the competition started in 1990, an estimated 25,000 have participated.

Shropshire Horticultural Society is the major sponsor of the competition and the Grand Final, with further backing from recruitment company MorePeople, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd. There are also many regional and local sponsors The Horticultural Trades Association is a new Gold national sponsor for 2016.

You can find out how to take part at www.horticulture.org.uk