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 from students representing Landscape, Horticulture and Garden Design disciplines from 12 participating colleges.
Deliberations complete. Students and tutors informed. Congratulations (and £100 prize money) on the way to this year’s cohort of Regional Student Winners:
Introducing: BALI Chalk Regional Students of the Year 2026
This year’s BALI Chalk Fund Top Student of the Year Awards are:
For achievement, professionalism and excellence in:
Landscape/Horticulture
- SAMUEL COLLINS: Yorkshire & North East Regional Winner, University of Sheffield
- JOSH CROUCH: South Thames Regional Winner, Merrist Wood College
- JILL DOYLE: Scotland Regional Winner, SRUC Oatridge College
- FINLAY LISK: South West Regional Winner, Wiltshire College
- JOSEPH LYNCH: Midlands Regional Winner, Pershore College
- STEVE PARTRIDGE: North Thames Regional Winner, Capel Manor College
- DAVID THOMAS: Wales Regional Winner, Bridgend College
Garden Design
- CAROLINE BAILEY: South Thames Regional Winner, London College of Garden Design
- ISOBEL CURRAN: South West Regional Winner, Cornwall College
Prizes and Rewards
Each Student has been selected out of all their individual college student submissions by their tutors/learning providers. Each Student will be presented with their Certificate, either at their College Award Graduations or separately. They will each receive a £100 prize and all Regional Winners will now go forward into the National Student of the Year Awards, the winners of which will be announced in September 2026.
The Importance of BALI Chalk Fund Top Student Awards
Nick Coslett, BALI Trustees Chair, has managed the process and assessment of all the applications with fellow Trustee Sarah Seery, former Head of Horticulture and Landscape at Capel Manor College.
They have once again been really encouraged by the level of interest in the Student Awards, and the support from a broader selection of land-based colleges from across the UK. Sarah said:
“The standard and quality of the applications this year continues to give us confidence and reassurance that the support we [BALI Chalk] offer is making a difference. Whatever route they take through their academic development, these highest achieving students don’t just get there through their everyday learning – it’s how they put this into practice in the real world that makes them stand out. Some are mentors for others, some are involved with charitable support, others are balancing studies and employment and striving forward to take every opportunity to boost their career prospects.
These Awards give worthy students a welcome boost. Standing out from the crowd like this helps to build confidence as well as a personal brand, and should be seen as the well-earned recognition they deserve for all the hard work and commitment as they make their mark (and catch the eye of prospective employers or clients) in the UK landscape sector.”
All 9 Regional Winners have the chance to become National Landscape/Horticulture or Garden Design Students of the Year. Winners will join the impressive ranks alongside last years winners Archie Matthews (Landscape and Horticulture Winner 2025) and Chloë Webster (Garden Design Winner 2025).
National Winners in each category will be presented with their Awards at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2026 Ceremony, at London’s prestigious JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane in December 2026.