Director John Grimshaw leaves the Yorkshire Arboretum
Dr John Grimshaw, Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum since 2012, has been appointed Editor-in Chief of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and will leave the arboretum at the end of September. Chair of Trustees Greville Worthington said...
Northern Branch Commendation 2024 awarded to Marian Foster
The Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s Northern Branch Commendation for 2024 has been awarded to the broadcaster Marian Foster. Marian will be a familiar voice to many as the long-running host of BBC Radio Newcastle’s ‘Garden Mania’ programme. The Commendation was...
Horticultural professions unite for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Charter
The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Charter for the Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping, and Garden Media professions emerged from BALI's Access All Areas webinars. During these sessions, representatives from various associations collaborated to sign a...
Digitised Herbarium unlocks global access to ‘plantcestry’ as it celebrates milestone achievement
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s (RBGE) project to digitise its renowned Herbarium collection has reached a significant milestone as it celebrates the digitisation of its one millionth specimen. The digitisation project aims to bridge the gap between the...
The Horticulturist – Vol. 33 No. 2 – Summer 2024
The Summer 2024 publication of The Horticulturist is out now for all members. View the preview of what’s inside this edition here.
Survey on First Aid Certificates in apprenticeships
We need your help The agriculture, arboriculture, countryside, forestry, horticulture & landscaping trailblazer groups are checking the approach taken to mandating first aid certificates in apprenticeship standards. Currently some occupational standards limit...
New Sedex audit standards raise concerns in the UK
The latest Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (Smeta) standards, which are due to come into force on 10th September, require UK growers to bear all recruitment expenses for seasonal workers, encompassing transport and visa costs. The National Farmers Union, British...
Bright SCIdea Challenge 2025
The Society of Chemical Industry holds The Bright SCIdea Challenge, which provides support for students at university in the UK and internationally, to develop an innovative science-based idea into a business plan and to compete for a prize worth £5,000. Entrants...
Government unveils major package of farming and food sector support at Farm to Fork Summit
The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced a package of measures to support farmers and grow the UK’s farming and food sector. This includes: • Further support for farmers and growers affected...
Get Them Growing!
National Children's Gardening Week 2024 runs from 25 May to 2 June, an event which is now widely supported by the UK garden industry. Read the full Garden News article here, which features the CIH's Grow Careers North event taking place at Harewood House in Leeds on...
World Therapeutic Horticulture Day 18th May 2024
The Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) is delighted to be supporting ‘World Therapeutic Horticulture Day’ taking place for the second year on 18th May. The day is dedicated to highlighting the numerous therapeutic benefits of horticulture and gardening, such as...
Jonathan Zerr becomes the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year!
Thursday, 9th May took us to Hestercombe House and Gardens, Taunton, Somerset for the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Grand Final. Hestercombe was an amazing venue, and we were lucky to be bathed in sunshine all day. The knowledge across this year’s finalists...
Yorkshire Arboretum Launches Virtual Reality Experience
The Tree Health Centre at the Yorkshire Arboretum launches virtual reality (VR) experience, educating future generations on tree health threats. As part of celebrations to mark National Plant Health Week, Askham Bryan College and the Tree Health Centre at the...
Changes to SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
New requirements to SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) workforce audits will require UK farming and growing business to pay for the recruitment and transportation fees of the seasonal workers they employ. SEDEX is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve...
Common user charge for commercial movements of medium and high risk plants through ports
Effective from 30th April 2024, implementation of the common user charge for commercial movements of all animal products, medium and high risk plants, and plant products through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel. Exemptions: The charge will not apply to low-risk plants...
The 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Grand Finalist Line Up is here!
After a well fought round of Regional Finals across the UK and Ireland, we are pleased to announce the Grand Finalists for 2024 are: Ireland: Chloe Callanan, The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin Scotland: James Douglass, SRUC and the Royal...
Implementation of the common user charge
Effective from 30th April 2024, implementation of the common user charge for commercial movements of all animal products, medium and high risk plants, and plant products through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel. Exemptions: The charge will not apply to low-risk plants...
The Horticulturist – Vol. 33 No. 1 – Spring 2024
The Spring 2024 publication of The Horticulturist is out now for all members. View the preview of what’s inside this edition here.
Celebrity garden designer opens national education awards for the Land-Based and Environment sector
Inspiring, celebrity garden designer, Danny Clarke (aka The Black Gardener) is hosting the ceremony for the national Land-Based & Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards later this year, with today marking the opening of nominations for 2024 entries. For the second year...
Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping & Garden Media Sector webinar on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) are working with other sector associations on an Access All Areas EDI strategy and programme of work to become more equitable, diverse and inclusive in all that we do as a group for all. You may recall the charter was...
Horticultural professions unite to celebrate International Women’s Day
As International Women's Day approaches on 8 March 2024, the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping & Garden Media professions stand together to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide and reaffirm their...
Advanced British Standard Consultation
The Department of Education (DoE) announce a consultation on The Advanced British Standard. Over the next decade, DoE are seeking to introduce the Advanced British Standard (ABS), a new Baccalaureate-style qualification framework for 16-19 year-olds. The ABS will:...
Improving Farm Productivity grant
The grant is open to horticultural and farm businesses and is to cover 50% of the costs of robotic and automated equipment (paying out £25,000 - £500,000), and 25% of solar equipment (paying out £15,000-£100,000). Deadline for applications 21 March 2024. Click here...
The Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition ONLY 1 WEEK TO GO!
Round 1 of the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition (YHoY) is well underway and the closing date Thursday 29th February is approaching fast! We have a new platform, a new look registration and single link access to the round making it quick and easy...
The Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition 2024 is launched!
We are thrilled to be launching the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition (YHoY) run by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, with the online Round 1 opening for entry on Thursday, 1 February 2024, the link can be found on our website and social media...