Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year 2021 competition


PlantNetwork have long supported the Young Horticulturist of the Year (YHoY) competition organised by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and we were very pleased to attend this year’s final at the glorious Logan Botanic Garden on Saturday 4th September 2021.

The finalists waiting for the competition to begin!

Congratulations to all the regional finalists who competed to be national YHoY champion (l-r in picture above): Rufina Frel (Ireland), Josh Heath (Scotland), Cailean Iain Stewart (North), Aidan Hopkinson (North West & North Wales), David Pearce (West Midlands & South Wales), Henrietta Huntley (Eastern), Shaun Ward (South West) and Tim Stafford (South East). All receive an individual membership of PlantNetwork for making the final!

Well done to Tim Stafford for winning YHoY2021 as well as runner-up David Pearce and third placed Cal Stewart. There were some very tough questions! We were particularly impressed by all the competitors’ interest in and knowledge of environmental issues, biodiversity, sustainable horticulture, and wildlife gardening… PlantNetwork looks forward to working with these amazing young horticulturists in the future.

The finalists with Logan Botanic Garden curator, Richard Baines

Thanks to the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Logan Botanic Garden for a great event. Also thanks to the Shropshire Horticultural Society and Bord Bia – Irish Food Board for making the competition possible, along with regional sponsors and supporters.

Logan Botanic Garden

More about YHoY

Find out what it’s like to take part in a YHoY regional final. Piers Horry speaks with Sam Hickmott about life as a young horticulturist: