Sunlight breaking through the trees in the New Forest
James Waterton and HRH Prince Edward. Photo by Michael Sullivan
James Waterton, Sparsholt College BSc Garden Design student has been presented with HRH The Prince of Wales Perpetual Challenge Trophy for his commitment to sustainable horticulture by HRH the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex who was installed the same evening as the new Master of The Worshipful Company of Gardeners. The award is presented to the student who best demonstrates a good understanding of sustainable horticulture whilst demonstrating sustainable practices.
James received a beautifully handwritten certificate signed personally by HRH The Prince of Wales, a glass bowl trophy and £500. He was given pride of place in the proceedings with just this one award given out during the evening. 350 members and guests provided congratulatory acclamation in the opulent Mansion House, where dinner was made particularly pleasing by the flower arrangements as might befit the Company, by the orchestral accompaniment and calibre of speeches and toasts.
Since 2011 James has attended Sparsholt College and has just completed his BSc in Garden Design. James is particularly interested in design, and in urban permaculture. He is a landscape consultant and a volunteer at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and has taught an after school club at a school. In 2011 with others he designed and constructed an Ideal Home Show Garden which won a Gold Award and received Best in Show.
Harry Mycock, Garden Design lecturer at Sparsholt College said: “James has taken a great deal of interest in the matter of sustainable gardening and garden design whilst at Sparsholt. He has addressed this important topic in his coursework and notably in his final BSc Dissertation. He will no doubt go on to make a great contribution to the matter which is so important as the climate changes and as population pressure takes its toll. We need many more like James.”
The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, first mentioned in City Corporation records in 1345, is a survivor from the mediaeval craft guilds, which exercised control over the practice of their particular crafts and ensured that proper training occurred through the system of apprenticeship.
