Encouraging SME’s to take free apprenticeship support via an organisation called Workwhile:  Free apprenticeship support for SMEs – For employers – Workwhile Transferring your apprenticeship levy to another business - GOV.UK Information for large employers about...

The Sustainable Farming Incentive cap has been reached for 2025/26 (at £1.05 billion) and the UK government have stopped accepting new applications. The next update will follow in May. The Higher-Level Stewardship payments are increasing across a range of options (for...

The Institute of Chartered Foresters and Forestry Commission are delighted to announce the launch of the Sustainable Careers in Forestry: Virtual Work Experience (VWEX) programme. This new virtual forestry work experience programme is now available on the immersive...

Congratulations 👏🎉 to all competitors in the Ireland Branch Regional Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition, hosted at Teagasc Ashtown Research Centre, Dublin. 1st – Sarah Simpson 2nd – Chelirs Brecq 3rd – Keelan Clarke Special recognition to our...

Congratulations 👏🎉 to all competitors in the Northern Branch Regional Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition, hosted at National Trust Acorn Bank. 1st - Otto Speight, RHS Harlow Carr 2nd - Joseph Gallon, RHS Harlow Carr 3rd - Ben Blake, Askham Bryan...

Congratulations to all of this year’s West Midlands & South Wales Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition! 1st Place: George Gaia Holmes 2nd Place: Charlotte Cole 3rd Place: Sam Evans We’re excited to see George represent the region...

The Gardens Trust is urging the UK Government to reconsider its plans, announced on 10 March,to remove the role of the Trust as a statutory consultee on planning applications. Currently, local Planning Authorities are required to consult the Gardens Trust on...

Congratulations to all of this year’s South East Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition! 1st Place: Anja Seymour 2nd Place: Alistair Coffey 3rd Place: Sam Stapleton Special recognition to our Runners Up: 🌟 Harry Thomas 🌟 Josh Hallett 🌟...

Congratulations to all of this year’s Eastern Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition! 1st Place: Charlotte Hayden, English Heritage 2nd Place: Benjamin Reed, Jesus College, Cambridge 3rd Place: William Charity, Markshall Estate Special...

Congratulations to all of this year's North West & North Wales Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition! 1st Place: Matthew Thurgood, Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside 2nd Place: Ruby Goodwin, Myerscough College 3rd Place:...

Congratulations to the South West Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year 2025! Huge well done to the top three: 🥇 1st Place: Sam Hickmott, National Trust Lytes Cary Manor 🥈 2nd Place: Mark O'Connor, RHS Rosemoor 🥉 3rd Place: Holly Doran, The Eden...

Congratulations to the Scotland Regional Finalists of the Young Horticulturist of the Year 2025! The Scotland Young Horticulturist of the Year 2025 Regional Final winner is Frank Cooke ACIHort, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh! We look forward to seeing Frank at the...

The Department of Education released the following press release on the 13th February More red tape slashed to reduce apprenticeship bureaucracy - GOV.UK.  In essence announcing new board appointees, introduction of shorter Apprenticeship from August 2025 (from...

The consultation is to gather feedback on the proposed Precision Bred Variety List for England. Defra want to understand how the variety listing of precision bred agricultural and vegetable plant varieties in England will impact businesses.  This consultation is of...

New guide and free expert advice to using peat-free compost launches As the growing season approaches, a coalition of expert organisations - retailers, manufacturers, growing media manufacturers, growers, conservation charities, and trade bodies - have united to...

February might not seem like an obvious time to be thinking about sun safety and the dangers of skin cancer but every year over 17,000 cases of melanoma skin cancer are reported in the UK. Gardeners, Growers, Landscapers and those working outdoors with a high exposure...

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, on Thursday 9 January set out the Government’s long-term vision to put more money back in the pockets of British farmers, while speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference.  Government’s New...

We are thrilled to be launching the 2025 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition (YHoY) run by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, with the online Round 1 opening for entry on Saturday 1st February 2025, the link can be found on our website and socials. The...

Following the announcement of the ‘Pause and Review’ on the reforms to qualifications at level 3 and below The Department for Education (DfE) announced outcomes. Key points include: The government will retain funding for 157 qualifications (alongside T Levels and A...

The UK’s Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner MP welcomes new Environmental Horticulture Group (EHG) report revealing the environmental horticulture sector contributed £38 billion to the UK economy and supported over 722,000 jobs in 2023. By 2030, it could be worth £51.2...

Cherry blossom or ‘Sakura’ is the national flower of Japan, symbolising the transient beauty of life. Tourists make pilgrimages in the blossom season to view the springtime spectacle of the kaleidoscopic montage of pastel pink and white blossom that adorn Japan’s...

The Autumn 2024 publication of The Horticulturist is out now for all members. View the preview of what’s inside this edition here.

Over 250 people attended this year’s Grow Careers Scotland event at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. During the day a small group planted a Franklinia alatamaha tree to commemorate The Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s 40th anniversary. The planting was...

Professional horticulturists from across the North of England gathered at Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture. How else would an Institute of horticulturists mark such an occasion then with a...

Cherry blossom or ‘Sakura’ is the national flower of Japan, symbolising the transient beauty of life. Tourists make pilgrimages in the blossom season to view the springtime spectacle of the kaleidoscopic montage of pastel pink and white blossom that adorn Japan’s...