The Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition 2004 results

The Institute of Horticulture has just completed its Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition for 2004.

Dean Marston, who is studying for a BSc in commercial horticulture at Pershore College, won this year's Institute of Horticulture competition, held at the RHS garden, Wisley, by a convincing 18-point margin. Dean, who is 24, plans to tackle a PhD before going into teaching. 'I'd like to focus on some aspect of plant nutrition', he said. 'It's vital to all plants, no matter what you grow'. He was delighted to win the prize, and his shortlist of destinations to travel with the Percy Thrower bursary are Africa, China and Nepal.
Runner-up was Lucy Halsall, who is an advisor at RHS Wisley, so was competing on her own patch. Her personal long-term plan is to go into horticultural journalism. In third place was Edward Miles, studying for an HND in organic horticulture at the Welsh College of Horticulture. Edward abandoned architecture for horticulture, and looks forward to managing an organic market garden.
The youngest finalist ever, 17 year old Matthew Pottage, came seventh in the competition. His day was made when he learned that he had gained a coveted place on the two-year course for the Wisley Diploma, starting this September, after he has completed his ND in horticulture at Bishop Burton College.

Presenting the prizes, Keith Power Chairman of the Shropshire Horticultural Society, congratulated the competitors on their range of knowledge. 'The society is very pleased to continue to support this competition', he said. 'The future of the industry is safe in the hands of this new generation of talented horticulturists.'
IoH president Professor Geoff Dixon agreed. 'Horticulture is a vital component of everyday life', he said. 'We need committed young people like these to ensure that our environment is safer and more pleasant for all of us to enjoy.'
The other finalists were Ian Roofe from Easton College in Norfolk, Michael Evans from Greenmount College in Northern Ireland, Anthony Knox who is studying at Sparsholt College, Hampshire and Sam Held a student at Oatridge College, East Lothian. The quiz master was Colin Crosby.

Sponsors of the 2004 competition were: