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Grants To Visit Gardens Or Travel To See Wild Plants In Their Native Habitats

A passion for plants is the primary requirement to qualify for a grant from the Merlin Trust.

Successful applicants have in the past trekked across Nepal discovering rare plants, visited botanical gardens in the USA and Canada, and studied trees in Kent. This year’s grants are for UK travel only.

The trust was set up by Sir David Scott’s widow, Valerie Finnis, in memory of her husband and their son, Merlin, killed in North Africa during the Second World War. Grants are awarded to enable young horticulturists to visit gardens or travel to see wild plants in their native habitats. Travel and other expenses are paid.

Four awards will be made in 2022:

Study Travel Grant – Up to £1,000 is provided to individual applicants to carry out garden tours, undertake work experience in gardens or other horticulturally-related areas, pursue research projects, visit conservation programmes, attend conference or take part in skill based training.

Heather Project Special Award – A £1,000 award for a project focused on heather. Projects might involve heather in cultivation or conservation projects of heather and heath habitats in the UK.

The Green Recovery Award – Supports travel to and support at gardens and plant related environment projects with a sustainable or conservation focus. There are many places you could visit/arrange work experience including the RSPB Haweswater Restoration Project or Centre for Alternative Technology.

Health & Wellbeing Award – This award will support travel to and support at gardens or projects which have a focus on health and wellbeing in horticulture. Examples could be work experience with a horticultural therapy organisation or a study tour examining the role that gardens and contact with plants can play in improving health and wellbeing. Potential examples of organisations and gardens include Thrive, Trellis, Eden Project, and Horatio’s Garden.

Applicants should be British or Irish, aged under 35, or within five years of starting a horticultural or botanical career. Both student horticulturists and employed horticulturists can apply. Application is ongoing.

More information from merlin-trust.org.uk.

Volunteer information with gardening organisations can also be found via the links above.