WSUK Horticulture Foundation Final 2022

Participants were required to plant a raised border to a given brief to also include tree planting, staking and tying a small bark pathway and mulching.

This competition was developed to test the participant’s knowledge and skills in the following areas:
Health and safety, horticulture, design, creativity, plant knowledge and planting skills.

Participants were given just 2hrs to prepare and create a “Winter Colour” Border.

Each participant had to:

o Demonstrate horticultural health & safety while planting the border.
o Demonstrate correct use of hand tools throughout the assessment.
o Clear the border of stones and debris and correctly prep for planting.
o Install a small pathway as specified
o Install 3 posts to stand vertically.
o Plant the border according to the supplied simple plan/design.
o Plant the border so it is faced correctly, at the right density, to give the impression it has been there for some time.
o Ensure tree planted correctly and has the appropriate stake and tie.
o Ensure border mulched appropriately.
o Clear away equipment and clean down work area ready for the presentation
Presentation and question time is outside the 2hr time limit.
o Present you border to the judges, explaining your selections/choices of planting and plants.
o Demonstrate after-care of the border, explaining what you would have to do to extend the life and vigour of the border

They all did amazingly well and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The competition was judged by APL Natalie Ilsley and HTA Pippa Greenwood. A huge thanks to our plant sponsors J A Jones Nurseries and to the Staff (especially Chris) for all their support setting this up.