After a well fought round of Regional Finals across the UK and Ireland, the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Young Horticulturist of the Year are pleased to announce the Grand Finalists for 2024.
Sunday 24th November - Due to high winds this morning and fallen branches around the gardens, we will be opening at the later time of 11am today. Illuminate will take place as planned tonight.
Due to the weather some routes leading to Hestercombe are closed due to fallen trees, please check your route here before travelling as visitors may need to take alternative routes to the venue.
We are now on the count down now to the Grand Final, which will be held on Thursday 9th May at Hestercombe House and Gardens Taunton, Somerset.
The finalists are:
Ireland: Chloe Callanan, The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin
Scotland: James Douglass, SRUC and the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Northern: Lucy Whitehead, The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland, The Durham Dales
North-West North Wales: Frank Cooke, Myerscough College, Preston
Eastern: Jonathan Zerr, Helmingham Hall, and Benton End House & Gardens, Suffolk
West-Midlands South Wales: Lawrence Weston, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington
South-East: Al Coffey, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
South-West: Sam Hickmott, National Trust Lytes Cary Manor and Tintinhull Garden, Somerset
We wish all our finalists the best of luck for the final round!
“The calibre of this year’s entrants has been so high, I am looking forward to what I know will be an exciting battle for the winning place at the Grand Final” Victoria George, National Organiser
