Askham Bryan College Horticulture Teacher wins the 2026 Northern Regional Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition

Askham Bryan College’s Horticulture Course Manager Lauren Moore, wins 2026 Northern Regional Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year, held at Thorp Perrow Arboretum.

Lauren will now go on to represent the North in the Grand Final at Rochdale Town Hall on 16 May 2026.

Reflecting on her win Lauren said: ” “I’m really pleased to have been named Northern Region Young Horticulturist of the Year. The competition was a fantastic experience and the standard of knowledge on display made it both challenging and rewarding to take part.

As a horticulture tutor, this achievement feels particularly meaningful. Teaching is a huge part of my day-to-day work and I’m passionate about helping students build both confidence and strong plant knowledge through specialist practical skills and the latest industry knowledge. Opportunities like this not only allow me to test my own understanding, but also bring fresh insight back into the lessons.

Horticulture is such a knowledge-driven industry and being able to pass that on, whether through practical skills, plant identification or encouraging curiosity, is something I really value. Competitions like this highlight just how important it is to keep learning and to support the next generation coming into the profession.

I’m very grateful to the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Thorpe Perrow Arboretum for organising and hosting such a well-run event, and I’m looking forward to representing both the region and the college in the final.”

A huge congratulations to T Level Horticulture student Ben Blake and Issac Rice City and Guilds Level 3 Horticulture student who also came runners-up.