If you’re a student with a passion for ‘green’ horticulture you may be the right candidate to apply for the £1,500 John Gibson Environmental Scholarship.
Part of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season, this award wants to know your interest in environmental solutions and sustainable applications and how you see them advancing commercial horticulture.
Juliet Turner won the John Gibson Environmental Scholarship last year while studying the Foundation Degree Horticulture at CAFRE - Greenmount College. She comments: “Winning the John Gibson Scholarship gave me the financial freedom to pursue a number of horticultural interests. The support was extremely useful in helping to fund college tuition and accommodation fees and covering travel expenses for a number of training opportunities. I used some of the funding to attend two training courses and I am sure that being the recipient of the Scholarship also helped in gaining two paid horticultural positions over the summer in a beautiful private garden and with the National Trust.”
Juliet adds: “Thank you very much to the David Colegrave Foundation and to John Gibson - you have helped me learn and experience so much in the last enjoyable few months and I am very grateful to have had the financial support to help continue developing my horticultural skills. I am excited to explore the opportunities a career in sustainable horticulture will open up for me.”
This scholarship recognises John Gibson’s keen interest in environmental solutions that can advance commercial horticulture in a sustainable manner. John dedicated 65 years of his life to the industry, forging a fine international reputation. After starting his career at Bees Seeds, John went on to work at Colegrave Seeds with the late David Colegrave and was at the forefront of the development of the market for hybrid seeds and seedlings. In his time, John has seen the beginning of the trial grounds at West Adderbury, which are now part of Ball Colegrave's annual new variety showcase, he has spent 30 years judging the trials grounds at Wisley Gardens, and since his retirement he has served as a Trustee for the David Colegrave Foundation until recently stepping down.
The David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season is open now until 31 January 2020.
Applications are already coming in from the likes of The University of the Highlands and Islands - Argyll College UHI, The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise - Greenmount campus, Harper Adams University, Walworth School of Horticulture, Eden Project Learning, Nottingham Trent University, Myerscough College, Pershore college and Broomfield Derby college.
More colleges are encouraged to get on board and get their horticulture students applying.
David Colegrave Foundation