The Cornwall Garden Society (CGS) is pleased to invite horticulture students and apprentices, as well as working gardeners in Cornwall, to apply for the 2024/2025 round of the annual bursary fund of up to £5,000 that it administers on behalf of Clare, Helen and Brendan Wells in memory of their late mothers, Pat and Margaret Wells.

The aim of The Pat and Margaret Wells Bursary is to support those studying or intending to study horticulture at educational establishments in Cornwall on a full- or part-time basis, or in apprenticeships or other horticultural-related employment in the Duchy.

The deadline for this year’s round of applications is 9am on Wednesday 30^th October 2024.

Applicants are required to complete a simple online form, summarising their qualifications, horticultural and/or other experience, current occupation or activity, and any other relevant points, as well as a clear indication of the amount of financial support they require and the specific purpose for which it is intended.

Successful applicants are confirmed in November and bursaries are awarded in December to be utilised during the following year. No grant of more than £2,000 will be made to any individual applicant.

Pat and Margaret Wells were, in turn, the wives of Paddy Wells, the late father of Clare, Helen and Brendan. Pat and Margaret shared a passion for gardening.

Pat was the gifted amateur with the painter’s eye for all that blooms.

Margaret, who lived and gardened in Cornwall for many years, was an experienced horticulturist. She scooped prize after prize for her gardens, which were often sculpted from barren earth and coaxed to spectacular maturity. Margaret was a CGS member from 1978 until her death in 2018. She won the Knibbs Memorial Cup at the CGS Spring Flower Show in 1981 and 1982 as well as prizes from Kerrier District Council for the beautiful garden she created at Little Antron in Mabe Burnthouse.

“This bursary has been established to support anyone who faces disadvantage in the pursuit of a career in horticulture, for whatever reason, and who seeks financial assistance in relation to course fees, travel expenses, or other study- or work-related expenditure,” explains CGS Chairman, Martin Petherick. “We are immensely grateful to Clare, Helen and Brendan Wells for their generosity in establishing this bursary in memory of their mothers to provide much-needed support for horticulturists in Cornwall and we hope to attract a wide range of applications.”

“Born in the 1920s, our mothers, Pat and Margaret, both wished to study horticulture themselves but never had the chance,” explained Clare Wells on behalf of her family. “We decided to offer a helping hand to up-and-coming gardeners by covering horticultural-related expenses, which ranged from travel costs associated with extending knowledge of diverse plant collections, chainsaw clothing and equipment, funding to support work placements and qualifications to undertake professional tree-felling and chainsaw management in the 2023/2024 cycle. We are looking forward to receiving and reviewing applications for 2024/2025, and hope that many people from across Cornwall will apply.”

The application form can be accessed here.