The Garden Centre Association (GCA) Trust has completed its best year ever of approving grants to students of horticulture.
More than £10,000 has been awarded to 10 students studying on a wide range of courses including sustainable horticulture, RHS levels two and three, diplomas in garden design and a BSc in Horticulture.

There has also been a change of trustees at the organisation. Trust chairman Sue Allen said: "At our recent Trust meeting we sadly accepted the resignation of Jeffrey Bernhard as the longest-standing and one of the original trustees. He was instrumental in the creation of the Trust in 1987, and over the last 29 years has helped guide the trust wisely, ensuring its healthy continuation.

"The newly-appointed trustees are Derek Bunker of Alton Garden Centre, Will Armitage, immediate past chairman of GCA, and Rik Tarbatt, who has been the trust's treasurer for many years.

"It is hoped that, which can be the deciding factor when a student is faced with so many expenses, not least the high course fees. However, the trust will be putting greater emphasis on courses specifically related to horticulture rather than garden design in the future."