The Grand Final will take place on Saturday, 16 May 2026, in the Bright Hall at Rochdale Town Hall.
The competition is open to anyone across the UK and Ireland who is under 30 on 31 July 2026. It offers entrants the opportunity to test their horticultural knowledge, broaden their experience, and connect with others across the sector. The Grand Final will see the winner from each of the regional finals compete to claim the title of Young Horticulturist of the Year 2026.
This long‑established competition provides a unique platform for emerging horticulturists to showcase their skills. The overall winner will receive the prestigious title of Young Horticulturist of the Year along with a £2,500 travel bursary from The Percy Thrower Trust, generously provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society. The bursary supports a horticultural study trip anywhere in the world, enabling the winner to explore new ideas,
research, or practical experience within their chosen field.
Rochdale Town Hall, a Grade I‑listed landmark, sits at the heart of a town centre transformed by recent greening and public‑realm improvements. The restored building is now complemented by new planting, biodiversity features and redesigned pedestrian areas that link with wider green‑infrastructure projects across Rochdale. These include upgrades at Rochdale Riverside, improved connections to Broadfield Park and greener, more accessible spaces along the reopened River Roch. Together, these projects reflect the aims of the Township Green Infrastructure Action Plan by strengthening sustainable design, improving connectivity and creating welcoming civic spaces that support community use and long‑term environmental resilience.
Attendance at the Grand Final is by invitation only but we do have a few spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Members can register their interest for one of these spaces here.
