Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship
This unique mentoring scholarship is open to both experienced and up and coming garden designers building a show garden at this year’s show. Launched last year, and sponsored by hard landscaping manufacturer Bradstone, this exciting year-long vocational scheme provides the platform to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside one of Britain’s most respected and best-loved gardeners and broadcasters, Chris Beardshaw. The new scheme is the first and only one of its kind on the national gardening show calendar, capturing the imagination of more than sixty applicants in this, its first year!
Twelve up-and-coming garden designers have made it to schemes shortlist for 2008 and each is creating a show garden at this year’s show. Each will have to pitch to a panel of judges on stage, and in front of show visitors in the Design for Living Theatre.
There will be a public vote, but the judging panel of Chris, RHS Head of Shows Development Bob Sweet and Ian Wright of Bradstone will have the final say on Thursday 8th May at 3.30pm.
The individual who puts forward the best business case and shows the greatest imagination and drive to succeed can look forward to a 12 month vocational apprenticeship with Chris, working throughout the year with nurseries, design contractors and Bradstone, as well as joining a Royal Horticultural Society course to achieve a recognized qualification. The winner will go on to design and build an edible show garden at the Malvern Autumn Show in September, and then face the ultimate challenge of building a small garden at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in May 2009, when Chris will step down from the panel to work alongside with his protégé.
As well as finding our designer for 2008, this year’s show gardens are sure to inspire future applications for next year’s Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship. To enquire about your application for 2009/2010 please contact Nina Acton on 01684 584900 or by e-mail.
Timetable |
|
| 7th May | Judging of show gardens |
| 8th May | Individual presentations and winner announcement at 3.30pm in the Design for Living Theatre |
| June | Design submitted for Malvern Autumn Show Edible Garden |
| August | Design submitted for small Chelsea Flower Show Garden |
| September | Garden build for Malvern Autumn Show |
| 27th-28th September | Malvern Autumn Show |
| September | Launch of 2009 Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship |
| October-November | Applications for 2009 to be submitted |
| October | Confirmation of small garden design for Chelsea 2009 |
| December 2009 | Scholarship gardens considered by RHS for approval |
| January 2009 | Gardens accepted |
| February 2009 | Garden Design Seminar for new applicants |
| April/May | Chelsea garden build |
| April | Spring Gardening Show garden build |
| 7th-10th May 2009 | Malvern Spring Gardening Show |