About us
Aims and objectivesHorticulture industry and profession
Structure and governance of IoH
Who's who in IoH
History and achievements
Awards and prizes
IoH Awards and Prizes
The Institute encourages and rewards excellence in horticulture through a number of awards. Some of them are confined to members, but others such as the Young Horticulturist of the Year Award are open to non-members as well as members.
Young Horticulturist of the Year
Prestigious award attracting over 1500 entrants each year, the overall winner collects the Percy Thrower Travel Bursary, worth £2,000, provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society. This funds a horticultural tour anywhere in the world. The competition is open to any horticulturist who is below the age of 30 on July 31st in the year of the competition.
The competition is run in three phases: local heats starting in January each year, available on-line or at colleges, garden centres and anywhere else where competitors may gather, Regional Finals and National Final.
Heat winners go forward to one of eight Branch Finals, usually run in February and March, in which a Question Master asks a wide range of horticultural questions, some on a buzzer, some directed to individual contestants.
Finalists ready to face the question master at the
National Final 2008 at the Eden Project
The winner of each Branch Final then goes forward to the YHoY National Final, usually run in late April or early May. The format is the same as for the Branch Finals and the questions are drawn from all branches of horticulture.
More information here
IoH Award
Prestigious award made to individuals who have made an outstanding and significant contribution to horticulture. Recipients of the Award need not necessarily be members of the Institute. There are no more than 50 holders of the award at any one time.
Current holders of the award
President’s Medal
Award made each year to a member of the President’s choice and endorsed by the Executive Committee.
Recent recipients of the Award
Aberconway Medal
Medal and £500 Prize awarded annually for best dissertation by students or horticulturists under the age of 30. Closing date 15 July each year
More information here
James Bruce Prize
Books to the value of £50 awarded for top person taking the RHS Diploma in Horticulture Practical Examination
College Prizes
One year free IoH membership to students nominated by participating horticultural colleges
Norah Stucken Award
Award made annually for outstanding projects which have made a significant impact on horticulture. The award commemorates Norah Stucken who was a long-standing publisher of the trade magazine, The Grower
Further details and nomination form
Previous winners of the award