GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ASPIRING ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN STUDENTS

[Maggi Young]

Do you know a young gardener who might benefit from some grant aid with their studies?

 GRANTS FOR ASPIRING ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN STUDENTS

THE DIANA AITCHISON FUND    http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants


The Diana Aitchison Fund of SRGC  provides grants and bursaries to support young people who want to pursue a career in horticulture, and especially to further their knowledge of alpine and rock garden plants, and their cultivation. The fund was established thanks to a very generous sum of money made available from the estate of the late Diana Aitchison, a keen gardener and plantswoman who set up and ran her own nursery at Spindlestone, near Belford, Northumberland. The fund is managed by the Scottish Rock Garden Club.
Grants from the Diana Aitchison Fund will be available each year. An indication of the value of awards made in previous years is given in the full information sheet available from the link below. Priority will be given to students following horticultural courses lasting one or more years and might go towards fees, living costs or travel expenses, either on a full-time course or at another location, such as summer work experience at a botanic garden or nursery. A personal contribution toward the cost of any course would be expected from any recipient.

There is now a rolling deadline for applications.

Edit: November 2017 : Matt Topsfield is the new Administrator of the Diana Aitchison Grants for SRGC - his contact details are:

Matthew Topsfield
12 Rhugashinish, Isle of South Uist HS8 5PE
07775 812036
mtopsfield@icloud.com

  http://files.srgc.net/fund/infosheet.pdf for information sheet
and  http://files.srgc.net/fund/appform.pdf   for the application form.

See this thread for news of the continuing succcess of a former SRGC/D.A.Grant recipient: http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8588.0



For Students:  the SRGC offers  a free electronic subscription.  Register  on this page : http://www.srgc.net/membership/  and  send your application to this email address (Please give your place of study, the date of end of course of study.)

[Maggi Young]

DIANA AITCHISON FUND GRANTS 2012

The following grants have been awarded this year:

 

• Kathryn Braithwaite  £2,300 for her study/working trip to Wellington Botanic   Gardens, New Zealand. Jan – Feb. 2013

• Robert Dickie           £1,500 towards his travelling and living cost whilst studyingfor a Degree in Garden Design at Hadlow College

• Emmi Klarer            £800 for work experience at the Explorers Garden, Pitlochry   and visits to other gardens including the RBGE,

                                 Pitcairn Alpines, Cluny and Drummond Gardens.

This press clipping is about Emmi Klarer:
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[Maggi Young]

To learn a little about two past recipients of SRGC Grants, please see the info about Droni Amcho and Alan Elliott on the main site :
http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants

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Droni and Alan at the SRGC AGM in 2010, where they both gave presentations.

Alan tells his story here : http://files.srgc.net/fund/Geek2GardenerAlanElliott.pdf


Read his Report  to the SRGC of the Botanical Exploration of Darchula District, Far West Nepal, 2012 here:
http://files.srgc.net/fund/ReportAElliott.pdf


For Alan's article on R.E. Cooper in the Rock Garden #130 see here: http://files.srgc.net/fund/RECooper.pdf



If you know anyone with a passion for plants, especially of an alpine nature, and wishing to pursue a career in horticulture, please draw their attention to the SRGC Grants page and the Diana Aitchison Fund.   

[Maggi Young]

Horticultural Careers Afternoon : http://www.rbge.org.uk/education/professional-courses/horticultural-careers-afternoon
Wednesday 20th February 2013 (1.30pm – 5pm) at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JG

An afternoon of short presentations and seminars by a range of horticulturists, covering a broad variety of careers areas, experience and advice. Aimed at anybody who is interested in a career, or further developing their career in horticulture.
Download the full schedule for the day: http://www.rbge.org.uk/assets/files/Education/professional_courses/Grow%20Careers%20Afternoon%20%2820-2-13%29%20-%20FINAL%20Schedule.pdf


http://www.growcareers.info/  = the horticultural careers website

http://www.rbge.org.uk/about-us/vacancies#vacancy2

[Maggi Young]

SRGC Grants awarded 2013

DIANA AITCHISON FUND GRANTS 2013 - all details for application HERE

The following grants have been awarded this year:
• Jordan Miller £1,000 for a placement at the RBGE and Explorers Garden
• Mariel Tribby £1,200 for a  placement at the RBGE : see Mariel's blog about her experiences and travels to Scotland and Europe HERE

In addition, the SRGC also made the following Grants in 2013 from other Club Funds:

EXPLORATION FUND GRANTS 2013
• £1,000 to Joanne Everson for a trip to Patagonia in 2013
• £500 to Mike Kintgen for a trip to Patagonia in 2013.
• £1,000 to John Watson for a trip to Chile in 2013.
• £1,000 to Susann Nilsson for a trip to Kazakhstan and Japan in 2014.

 
Deadline for Applications for 2014
Anyone wishing to apply to the Exploration Fund for a grant for an expedition in 2014
or early 2015 should submit their application not later than 1st March 2014.

Application forms are available from the  SRGC Secretary, Carol Shaw.

Contributions to the Fund are always welcome and would enable us to offer more
support. Any donations should be sent to the President, Carole Bainbridge,
3 Woodhouselee, Penicuik EH26 0PG

 
BRITISH EXPLORATION SOCIETY
YOUNG EXPLORER BURSARIES
A bursary of £500 was awarded to each of the following BES Young Explorers. They
have been asked to write a report of their experiences for the club. As part of their
award they also receive free membership of the SRGC for a year.
• Katie Lumsdaine for a trip to Northern Norway
• Rosemary Cecile Hoggmascall for a trip to Northern Norway
• Esmie Hotston Moore for a trip to Northern Norway
• Mairi Iona Gilmour for a trip to Northern Norway

 

[Maggi Young]

A short video of John Foley, previous grant recipient from SRGC speaking about his career path ,  see here


Part of a series of "I love my job" videos from the RHS  - linked also from the Grow Careers site  http://www.growcareers.info/

[Maggi Young]

Do you know a young gardener who might benefit from some grant aid with their studies?

The next deadline for SRGC/DA Grants is 31st March 2015

In spite of an extended deadline and further attempts to spread the word of the student grants available from the SRGC there has been only one applicant this year for a Diana Aitchison Grant.
With an apparent rise in the number of young people wanting to follow a career in horticulture and much press coverage being given to the need to encourage more entrants to horticulture such a poor response is both disappointing and rather surprising.

As we have seen earlier in this thread, The Explorers' Garden at Pitlochry has often been involved with giving students a work placement. This year's student  enjoying several week's work experience and training at  Explorers' is not an SRGC grant aided student nor is she a horticulture student - I thought you might be interested to read about her to see just one aspect of what an SRGC grant might enable a student to achieve, quite apart from grant aid to their college or university studies.

Swiss Student Joins Explorers Garden


Jennifer Andenmatten, a junior year International Relations and Environmental Science student from Meilen, Switzerland joined Explorers Garden, Pitlochry, last week for a five week placement.
Jennifer will spend her time working alongside Julia Corden, the Garden Manager (and modern day plant hunter!) and her team of volunteers, learning about the diverse range of plants at Explorers, while enhancing her knowledge in conservation and sustainability.

A keen traveller, Scotland was the only country in Europe Jennifer was yet to visit, spurred on by an internship programme through her university course; Jennifer got in touch with Julia, and began her journey to Explorers. Staying in Pitlochry throughout the duration of her placement, Jennifer is enjoying the change of pace from her town in Switzerland and hopes that further travelling will help her carve out a career in International Relations working for The United Nations.
Located opposite Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the garden is a stunning area of 6 acres divided into sections representing different parts of the globe. The garden offers a unique visitor experience, blending amazing and rare plants together with the stories behind the men who risked death bringing them to the UK.

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Jennifer (pictured with Meconopsis Sheldonii flowers) commented, “I’m enjoying my time here, and looking forward to learning the differences between Scotland and Switzerland in terms of environmental conservation.” Under the expert guidance of Julia Corden, Jennifer will learn about Scottish botany and the conservation techniques used by the team in Explorers Garden.

A team of over 50 knowledgeable volunteers assist  Julia in everyday care of the gardens, as well as giving tours to the public; Jennifer added “It’s lovely to meet all the volunteers who give their time to this wonderful Garden”.
Additionally, Jennifer aims to gain experience in guiding visitors around the garden. Guides bring the gardens to life with their impressive knowledge, and provide visitors with an insight into the many different plants, trees and wildlife as well as information covering the varied history, art and architecture on display.

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The garden team has carried out a large Bio Diversity Project over the last 18 months. They were able to carry out this work with help from The Brown Forbes Trust and Bio Diversity Tayside.
Part of  this bio diversity project was to build Bug Hotels this is the largest one, fixed to the side of Pitlochry Festival Theatre.


The Explorers Garden,
Port na Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR     01796 484626
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Explorers-Garden/249567425229951



Just one of the opportunities an SRGC Grant could give to a student of horticulture - if you know of anyone with an interest in plants who is planning to study horticulture - please make sure they know about all the help that can be available to them!

 SRGC Grants :  http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants

 Grants for Horticulturists - a site with links to various Grant giving organisations  :
www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk

Grow Careers : Set up by The_RHS and administered by the Institute of Horticulture - ‘Grow Careers’ is the initiative for information on horticultural careers, courses and jobs in the UK :
http://www.growcareers.info/ and on Twitter : https://twitter.com/GrowCareers

For young folks seeking a  special  group of like-minded people :
"YoungHort" - a group set up via social networking to bring together young people in horticulture
http://younghortcontact.wix.com/younghort 
https://twitter.com/YoungHortTeam

[Maggi Young]

No grants have been awarded from the Diana Aitchison Fund in 2014.

If you know of any student who would benefit from a grant award from this fund please  let them know about this wonderful source of funding from the SRGC.

This is a reminder of the details of the fund.
The Diana Aitchison Fund provides grants and bursaries to support young people who want to pursue a career in horticulture, and especially to further their knowledge of alpine and rock garden plants, and their cultivation.
Grants from the Diana Aitchison Fund are available each year.
Priority will be given to students following horticultural courses lasting one or more years and might go towards fees, living costs or travel expenses, either on a full-time course or at another location, such as summer work experience at a botanic garden or nursery. A personal contribution toward the cost of any course would be expected from any recipient.
For further information contact Julia Corden   julia.corden@explorersgarden.com

[Maggi Young]

A reminder that the next deadline for applications for an SRGC  Diana Aitchison Grant  is  31st MARCH 2015

 All details of this fund are here on the main website - you will find information sheets and application forms to download from that page.


 If you know of any student who would benefit from a grant award from this fund please  let them know about this excellent source of funding from the SRGC.

 Also on that page you will find details of the SRGC Exploration Fund Grants, which  has a deadline for applications of 1st March  and also a note about  the SRGC's association with the British Exploring Society.

[Maggi Young]

Explorers' Garden, Pitlochry 
The Explorers' Garden has asked  if we have spotted Katie MacColl in and around the garden? Katie is joining the garden from Perth for a five month placement in Explorers with thanks to The Diana Aitchison Fund run by the Scottish Rock Garden Club.

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 It's great to see Katie enjoying a placement aided by an SRGC Grant.   Good luck, Katie MacColl!
   

[Maggi Young]

DIANA AITCHISON FUND GRANTS made to July 2015

Kate MaColl Placement at the Explorers Garden – 5 months to gain experience
£1,500:00
Kate MaColl RHS Level 3 £445:00
Petra Palkova HND Horticulture with Plantsmanship RBGE £1,500:00
Threave - Students NTS
Petra Palkova Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Georgina Goss Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Sean Hannah Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Kerry MaCallum Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Kate Merrington Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Jessica Scobie Visit to gardens and Alpine Houses in SE England £500:00
Colin Whiston Placement Glenarn Gardens, starts autumn 2015 £1,500:00
Rebecca Walker Month’s placement Tromso Botonic Gardens £1,500:00
Nick Courtens Two week study tour around Alpine Houses of Britain including
RBG Edinburgh, RBG Kew, Cambridge Botanics £2,000:00


EXPLORATION FUND GRANTS
The following grants have been awarded this year:
• £1,000 to Julia Cordon for a trip to Merak and Saktang Trek and the
surrounding area of Bhutan in 2015.
• £1,000 to Elspeth Mackintosh for a trip to Merak and Saktang Trek and
the surrounding area of Bhutan in 2015.
• £1,000 to Johan Nilson for a trip to Merak and Saktang Trek and the
surrounding area of Bhutan in 2015.
• £500 to Robert Blackhall-Mills for a trip to study the horticulture of the
high altitude Proteaceae of the Western Cape of South Africa in 2015.
• £800 Sally Mary-Ann Hughes for a trip to see the see the alpines of
Sichuan, Aba, Wenchuan and Leshan in 2015.
• £1,000 Susann Nilsson for a field trip to study Pulsatillas in 2015.
Deadline for Applications for 2016 Anyone wishing to apply to the
Exploration Fund for a grant for an expedition in 2016 or early 2017 should submit
their application not later than 1st March 2016. Application forms are available
from the Secretary, Carol Shaw.
Contributions to the Fund are always welcome and would enable us to offer
more support. Any donations should be sent to the President

[Maggi Young]

DIANA AITCHISON FUND GRANTS made to July 2015

Nick Courtens Two week study tour around Alpine Houses of Britain including
RBG Edinburgh, RBG Kew, Cambridge Botanics £2,000:00

Nick Courtens at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens:

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"I have never been more proud at this moment to say that the Education Center at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is complete. Countless hours, blood, sweat, and a few tears have gone into making this dream come possible. Please stop by and say hi. I'll be in my new alpine house planting with an eagle looking over my shoulder.

I'll post more pics of the alpine house soon. So glad I came to Scotland to learn more so I could bring this to the states. "

Artist Mickey Schilling is responsible for the new mountain landscape mural in the Education Center, Vail, Colorado     http://on9news.tv/1MPiJ8d

The construction at Vail
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Installing the tufa to the new  alpine house
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This is the new alpine house at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail Colorado - from May 2015
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The green roof being installed on the roof of the new Eduction Centre at Betty Ford Gardens http://www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org/
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[Maggi Young]

For Students:  the SRGC offers  a free electronic subscription.  Register  on this page : http://www.srgc.net/membership/  and  send your application to this email address (Please give your place of study, the date of end of course of study.)

[Maggi Young]

Nick Courtens has gained another DA Grant and he is blogging about it  here :
http://nickcourtens1.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/test.html

 At the moment he is in Gothenburg, having the amazing experience of learning from the greats of that wonderful botanic garden.  Later he will be back in Scotland to spend time at RBGE again - he will be at the Perth Show  too.
 You will see from his blog how much the DA grants  mean to this enthusiastic young  man who is a regarded by many, including , for instance, Panayoti Kelaidis of Denver Botanic Garden, to be one of the rising stars of American horticulture.

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[Maggi Young]

Carly Epping is another DA Grant recipient spending time at RBGE -  here is her blog :
https://carlyepping.wordpress.com/

 One of Carly's photos from RBGE - Rhododendron 'Hatsugiri'
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 Carly's intro:
My name is Carly and this is going to be my ongoing blog about my experiences as an intern at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and an all around plant lover traveling in Scotland. I graduated with a bachelors degree in horticulture last year in May and decided to continue my education through internships until this fall. Through the help many people, and funding from the Scottish Rock Garden’s Diana Aitchison’s Fund, I was able to plan a three month volunteer position working mostly in the Alpine and Rock Garden of The RBG Edinburgh. This blog is for people who may be interested in some of the things I’m seeing, doing, and  learning; as well as for myself, to make sure I am taking photographs regularly and documenting my experiences.  I will regularly post on Thursdays as best as I can. Enjoy!