Young Irish horticulturists go head-to-head this month in the first rounds of the annual Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.
The competition tests the mettle and horticultural knowledge of 2000 gardeners from the UK and Ireland, aged 30 or under and either studying horticulture or working in the industry. Local heats are now taking place across Ireland to select a regional finalist to compete in the 2014 Grand Final at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, East Anglia, in May.
Each contestant answers multiple choice questions on a range of horticultural topics as well as identifying plant specimens. You can pit yourself against these horticultural whizzkids at home with the sample questions on the Institute of Horticulture website (www.horticulture.org.uk).
It's a great way to find the very best young gardening talent in the country: previous finalists have included self-employed landscaper Mark Flahive, from Dublin, and Paul Traynor, a student at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the grounds of the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin, Dublin.
Prizes worth more than £10,000 are up for grabs, including the Percy Thrower Travel Bursary worth £2000. We wish all the contestants the very best of luck with this fantastic competition – and may the best gardener win!
