UK: New scholarships available to students

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) scholarship season is open for student horticulturists.

This year sees the launch of three new scholarships providing even more opportunities to students who have a passion for trees, sustainability or research.

NEW - The Majestic Trees Sponsored Travel Scholarship is offering up to £3,000 to fund a placement abroad at a tree nursery. This also includes the opportunity for a work placement at Majestic Trees, which could become a permanent position. The owners of Majestic Trees, Steve and Janet McCurdy, first met in California whilst Steve was working as an exchange student. Steve’s work experience opportunity greatly influenced the way they run Majestic Trees and it is for this reason that Majestic Trees would like to provide this scholarship for a student passionate about tree production.

NEW - The John Gibson Environmental Scholarship will award £1,500 to a student with a keen interest in environmental solutions and sustainable applications as applied to commercial horticulture. John Gibson worked at Colegrave Seeds with the late David Colegrave and was at the forefront of the development of the market for hybrid seeds and seedlings. This scholarship recognises John’s keen interest in environmental solutions that can advance commercial horticulture in a sustainable manner.

NEW - The Horticultural Research Scholarship will award £2,500 to support applied research within the horticulture industry. Students who are keen to pursue a research career in the horticultural industry should apply. This includes undergraduates, postgraduates and those studying for doctoral degrees.

South West Growers Show Sponsored Regional Scholarship awards £1,500 to support a student studying any aspect of commercial or production horticulture. Preference will be given to those studying/working in the South West of England.

The British Protected Ornamentals Association – Peter Seabrook Bursary offers £1,000 to support one or more students studying commercial horticulture. The scholarship is also available to schools and horticultural colleges to finance trips for students over 16 years of age to leading commercial horticultural establishments.

The Ball Colegrave Sponsored Travel Scholarship awards up to £1,500 to fund travel to Europe in order to develop knowledge and experience in bedding plant production and marketing. An employee in the early stages of their career at a commercial bedding plant nursery, or a student studying horticulture with an interest in commercial bedding plants should apply.

The Student Scholarship awards £1,000 to each of up to 5 students to support their studies in horticulture. Preference is given to candidates who have an interest in ornamental commercial horticulture, especially with an emphasis on the bedding, container, pot plant and cut flower sectors.

Jeff Colegrave, DCF Chairman, says: “We are excited to introduce such fantastic new opportunities to students this season. Our scholarships cover different areas of interest such as bedding plants, trees, research and sustainability to enable DCF to have a positive influence across the commercial horticultural industry. We hope that many students with a passion for horticulture will apply.”

Scholarship Season runs until January 2019 and to enter applicants simply need to complete an application form which they can do online.