The Horticultural Trades Association has announced the sixteen young people who have demonstrated their abilities in landscaping and horticulture and have progressed to the WorldSkills UK National Finals.
The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), the HTA’s specialist landscaper and designer members, is an official organising partner of WorldSkills UK. APL designs the skills component of both the Construction and Infrastructure: Landscaping and Foundation Skills: Horticulture competitions to ensure industry skills meet employers' needs. The annual competition also remains an essential way to raise standards in apprenticeship and training programmes, attracting more young people into landscaping and environmental horticulture in the UK.
Following the qualifying heats in June, the sixteen people who’ve made it through to the WorldSkills UK National Finals are:
Construction and Infrastructure: Landscaping
Sponsored by: JA Jones, Makita and Landscape Plus
- James Wightman, CAFRE
- Eli Smith, CAFRE
- Luke Donald, CAFRE
- Cameron Gilbert, CAFRE
- Cody Knight, Bridgend College
- Robert Lewis, Bridgend College
- David Thomas, Bridgend College
- Charles Robertson, Suffolk New College
Reserves:
- Callum Mason, Warwickshire College Group
- Jacob Irish, Myerscough College
Foundation Skills: Horticulture
- Alexander Fielder, Dudley College of Technology
- Ashley Price, Pembrokeshire College
- Edward Jones, Coleg Gwent
- James Denman, Cambridge Regional College
- Pamela Heart, NPTC Group of Colleges, Neath College
- Rhyliy Bishop, Pembrokeshire College
- Russell Reeves, Elidyr Communities Trust
- Zakk Duggan, Coleg Gwent
Reserves:
- Harrison Douglas, Cambridge Regional College
- Harry Stansfield, Cambridge Regional College
From 17 - 20 November 2026, hundreds of competitors will showcase their talents in over 40 skill areas at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, held across various venues in South Wales.
Simon Abbott, Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) regional manager, said: “Congratulations to the confirmed finalists who have demonstrated their skills and abilities to get this far. The standard and dedication of these young professionals is extraordinary.
“APL is proud to support this competition, which highlights the importance of skills development in our industry and our efforts to encourage the next generation of landscaping and horticultural talent.
“There are various skills and pathways into horticulture, making it an industry that is accessible to all. The Foundation Skills component of the competition, overseen by Natalie Ilsley, is an excellent opportunity that encourages participation.
“We look forward to the National Finals in November where we’ll see all the finalists’ creativity and resilience in action”
The Landscaping WorldSkills UK Final, supported by the APL, starts on 17 November at Bridgend College. Individual finalists have 16 and a half hours to build the same garden to the same specifications. Their work is judged against criteria set by the APL and approved by WorldSkills UK to determine who has created the highest-quality garden. The judges also consider health and safety, as well as the competitors' work processes. For the planting section of the challenge, finalists are provided with a selection of plants to work with, but it is up to them to be creative and truly stand out.
The Foundation Skills: Horticulture WorldSkills UK Final, supported by the APL, will be held at Cardiff and Vale College, City Campus on 20 November. The competition showcases the skills of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or additional learning needs (ALN). Finalists will be given around two hours to perform a horticultural task that relates directly back to areas of work required in today's industry. This may include production, merchandising or maintenance. Competitors will also have to explain their choices and are judged on creativity, adherence to the given theme, Health and Safety, and work processes.
The winner of each competition will be announced at a medal ceremony on Friday 20 November 2026.
For more information about WorldSkills UK, visit worldskillsuk.org.
