Production horticulture £1,750 work experience bursary launched

This bursary is funded by The Royal Horticultural Bursaries Committee.

The new bursary will support two successful candidates to undertake two weeks of immersive work experience at Hillier Nurseries in Hampshire. Hillier was recently named International Grower of the Year.

This placement is designed for students and those at the start of their horticultural careers who are keen to deepen their practical knowledge of large-scale, professional plant production. This will involve work experience opportunity in either container grown ornamental plants, or field grown tree production, according to the candidates main areas of interest.

During the first week, candidates will join the team at Hillier’s Bentry Container Nursery, gaining hands-on experience across a range of commercial production activities. These include propagation, potting, crop husbandry, irrigation and nutrition management, pest and disease monitoring, and preparing plants for retail and wholesale markets. Participants will work with container-grown shrubs, perennials, and ornamental trees, gaining insight into the cropping cycles that support Hillier’s annual production of up to one million plants.

The second week will normally be spent at Broadmead Container Nursery, where Hillier produces around 50,000 container-grown trees each year across more than 150 species.

Here, the focus will be on formative pruning, staking, integrated pest management, growing media management, and preparation for despatch. This experience provides insight into the specialist techniques required to grow high-quality containerised trees for year-round planting.

By working across both sites, candidates will be able to compare and contrast different production systems, understanding the distinct challenges and approaches involved in ornamental plant production versus container-grown tree cultivation.

For those with a particular interest in field-grown tree production, there is also the option to spend the placement at Andlers Ash Field Grown Tree Nursery. Set across 700 acres,  Andlers Ash is home to around 250,000 semi-mature trees representing 150 species. Here, candidates will gain experience in soil preparation, planting, formative and crown pruning, irrigation, lifting, and preparation for despatch, as well as learning about biosecurity, logistics, and long-term crop scheduling by shadowing the nursery management team.

Successful candidates will be awarded a bursary of up to £1,750, designed to cover travel, accommodation, and food costs for the duration of the placement, ensuring the opportunity is
accessible to talented individuals from across the UK.

The two-week placement will take place between May and September 2026, at a time agreed between the successful candidates and Hillier Nurseries.

Who should apply?

Anyone studying horticulture, plant science or a related subject, or someone who is at an early stage of their horticultural career and feels they would benefit from this opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a leading plant production nursery.

Applications must be made via the online application form, available on The Colegrave Seabrook
Foundation website: www.colegraveseabrookfoundation.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 29 March 2026.

See video here: https://colegraveseabrookfoundation.org.uk/scholarships/production-horticulture-work-experience-bursary/