David Colegrave Foundation scholarship winners include:
The £2,500 Horticultural Research Scholarship - Rakhee Dhorajiwala - Cardiff University. Rakhee is the first recipient of this award that supports applied research within the horticulture industry.
Rakee is completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Biosciences) at Cardiff University. Her area of interest lies in the study of postharvest physiology - the maintenance of (often) commercially sold horticultural products. These products, being high value and in many cases easily perishable, have research focused on their physiology once picked to improve their shelf life and quality. Rakee would like to have a career in horticulture and is passionate about being able to support the food and flower industry in providing consumers with the best quality fruit, vegetables and other commercially sold cut flowers and bedding plants in a sustainable way.
The £1,500 John Gibson Environmental Scholarship - Juliet Turner - College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Juliet is the first recipient of this award that supports environmental solutions and sustainable applications as applied to commercial horticulture.
Juliet is completing a Foundation Degree Horticulture at CAFRE at the Greenmount campus in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. Juliet has an interest in living walls which are a real growth area in the industry. The DCF Trustees were impressed by her vision and her interest in a commercial application of horticulture that would contribute to a sustainable environment.
The £1,000 Student Scholarships winners are:
Áine Gilchrist - CAFRE College
Áine is completing a Foundation Degree Horticulture at CAFRE at the Greenmount campus in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. Her interest lies in the production of bedding plants throughout the seasons, as well as horticultural therapy and horticultural production within the community and voluntary sector. This has led Áine to volunteer at a community garden, supporting the planning and production of bedding and container planting.
Richard Murray - CAFRE College
Richard is completing a Foundation Degree Horticulture at CAFRE at the Greenmount campus in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. He also works at Woodlawn Garden & Lifestyle in Carryduff, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Plant production is of particular interest to Richard, especially large-scale production and the wholesaling of ornamental plants. He hopes to own his own nursery one day.
Cody Smith - Myerscough College
Cody is completing a worked based apprenticeship - Level 2 Diploma in Work based Horticulture (Production Horticulture) at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, Preston while working at Abi and Toms Garden Plants, a plant and tree nursery in Witherslack, Cumbria. He is particularly interested in growing for commercial nurseries.
Franziska Goeckeritz – SRUC
Franziska is completing a BSc Horticulture at SRUC at the Edinburgh campus and works as a Horticultural Assistant at Dobbies Garden Centres. She has a particular interest in the commercial production of ornamental plants and one day, hopes to have her own ornamental nursery producing healthy specimen container grown trees and shrubs.
James Hunter - Writtle University College
James is completing a BSc Horticulture at Writtle University College at Chelmsford, Essex while also working at Joseph Rochford Gardens a hardy plant nursery based in Hertford, Hertfordshire. James has a keen interest in commercial production, with a specific interest in pest and disease management, especially with regards to the introduction of new invasive species as a result of factors such as climate change and global trade.
Jeff Colegrave comments: "This year we received a record number of applications from horticultural students studying at 22 colleges across the UK. We believe we have selected some excellent candidates who are very worthy recipients of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarships."
Three Sponsored Scholarships were also received for The £1,500 Ball Colegrave Sponsored Travel Scholarship, The £1,000 British Protected Ornamentals Association – Peter Seabrook Bursary and The £1,500 South West Growers Show (SWGS) Sponsored Regional Scholarship. News to follow.
The next DCF Scholarship season opens in September 2019.
More information on DCF can be found at www.davidcolegravefoundation.
