Congratulations to David Thomas from Bridgend College. David, studying for his Level 2 Practical Diploma in Horticulture and Landscaping, has been selected as one of our 2026 Landscape/Horticulture Students of the Year for the Wales region. Qualifying like previous national winner Archie Matthews for the World Skills Final in landscaping, David has been able to

Congratulations to Josh Crouch from Merrist Wood College. Josh, studying for his Level 2 Horticulture and Landscaping BTEC, has been selected as one of our 2026 Landscape and Horticulture Students of the Year for the South Thames region. Josh has had his “a-ha” moment where he realises that the landscape sector is exactly where he’s

Congratulations to Joseph (Joe) Lynch from Pershore College. Joseph, studying for his Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture, has been selected as one of our 2026 Landscape & Horticulture Students of the Year for the Midlands region. Balancing his timber and gardening business alongside his college studies, Joe has demonstrated his organisation skills, time management and

Congratulations to Jill Doyle from SRUC Oatridge Campus. Jill, studying for her National Certificate Level 5 for Horticulture with Landscape Construction, has been selected as one of our 2026 Landscape and Horticulture Students of the Year for the Scotland region. Jill left a career in teaching to pursue a growing love of…growing. She loves the

The competition for this year’s BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year has intensified again in 2026. The number of students working towards courses in land-based disciplines who have applied has increased by 80% year-on-year, giving the Trustees Panel a greater (and heartily welcomed) challenge in their deliberations.  We received 65 entries this year

Charlie White was studying at Merrist Wood College in 2024. His tutor, Anna Eyres, nominated him for his “attention to detail and his enthusiasm encouraging others – he always puts in 100% effort.” A year on from his BALI Chalk Student of the Year Award win in 2024, we asked where his award win had

Before winning the BALI Chalk Landscape Student of the Year in 2023 and studying at Wiltshire (Lackham) College, Russell Fletcher was a builder, working for his father’s business. He attended the BALI National Landscape Awards event with his father, on what he sees as one of the most rewarding days of his career to date.