The Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust is inviting entries from individuals under 46 years old and involved in horticulture, the food chain or the broader rural and farming industries to submit proposals for this year’s round of travel awards.

And this year is a new award sponsored by the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) specifically for a horticulture-related travel bursary. Launching the award, Colin Harvey, HDC chairman said: “HDC is delighted to sponsor these awards. Travel provides an ideal opportunity to see new practices, to observe how others address particular topics and to foster new contacts and friendships. The Nuffield Scholarships Trust has a long and distinguished history of providing individuals with a tremendous and often life-changing opportunity. The successful candidate will be invited to relay their findings to the relevant growers groups and HDC Council for the benefit of the horticultural industry.”

The trust is funded by the agriculture and food industry, charities with agricultural objectives and past scholars themselves and awards around 20 new scholarships each year to enthusiastic people who fulfil the criteria laid down by the trust.

Richard Hirst, chairman of the NFU Horticulture Board is a former scholar who studied broccoli production in Europe and the US.

“I saw some amazing things on my travels,” said Hirst. “It allowed me to see how different cultures and countries approach challenges and opportunities in different ways. Schemes like Nuffield can enable individuals to benefit personally but also bring that knowledge back to UK horticulture.

Further details are available from www.nuffieldscholar.org

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