The first recorded national final the competition was held in 1990 at Writtle College in Essex and is supported by the Shropshire Horticultural Society (SHS). The SHS fund a large proportion of the competition and in particular the £2,500 travel bursary awarded to the winner each year.
The funds for the competition come from a trust set up in honour of Percy Thrower. Percy was known to many as the first ever celebrity gardener and is recognised for his time on BBC Gardeners World from 1969 to 1976.
With a prize fund of £8000 there are opportunities to win prizes across round 1, regional finals, and the grand final. The ultimate winner of the competition wins a £2500 travel bursary to fund horticultural related travel anywhere in the world. Previous winners have visited Borneo, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the Himalayas, and the Galapagos Islands.
The competition is free to enter an open to anyone below the age of 30 on 31st July in the year of entering the competition.
Entries for the 2024 competition will open on the 1st of February 2024. For further competition information and entry details see the Chartered Institute of Horticulture website.