Trainee horticulturalist Lexie Bull, who works at Highfield Garden World alongside her studies at Pershore College in Worcestershire, has been awarded a prestigious industry bursary in recognition of her passion for horticulture and commitment to working in it.

Launched this year by the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation with funding from the RHS Bursaries Committee, and organised in partnership with Hillier Nurseries, the new ‘Production Horticulture Work Experience Bursary’ offers horticultural students and early-career professionals the opportunity to gain two weeks of hands-on experience at the internationally renowned Hillier Nurseries in Hampshire.

Speaking about receiving the bursary, Lexie said; “I am delighted to be selected for this bursary and work experience at Hillier Nurseries. I can’t wait to learn more about the nursery side of the industry, develop new skills, and gain experience at such an amazing nursery.”

Jon Mason, Planteria Manager and a Director at Highfield Garden World, said; “Here at Highfield Garden World we enjoy bringing on the next generation of horticulturists. It is fantastic to see enthusiastic youngsters bringing new ideas and energy into the business of plants and flowers, and we are thrilled that Lexie’s hard work and forward-thinking approach has been recognised and rewarded. Hillier Nurseries are world-leading, and her work experience there will be a real boost for her knowledge. Coincidentally, our own MD Tim Greenway trained there himself too many moons ago!”

Lexie is particularly interested in container plant production and will spend her first week at Hillier’s Brentry Container Nursery, focusing on propagation, potting, crop husbandry, irrigation, plant nutrition, pest and disease monitoring, and preparing plants for both retail and wholesale markets. The nursery produces up to one million ornamental plants annually, including shrubs, perennials and ornamental trees, giving Lexie valuable insight into large-scale ornamental plant production and cropping cycles. Her second week will be spent at Broadmead Nursery, where approximately 50,000 container-grown trees across 150 species are produced each year. Here, she will gain experience in formative pruning, staking, integrated pest management, and soil and media-based cultural practices, building a broader understanding of container-grown tree production for year-round planting.