by Bethany Vann | 30 Jul 25 | News
In an effort to strengthen the land-based work force the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) is launching a new Management Development Programme.
The nine-day residential programme is designed to support young managers in horticulture; helping build their confidence, and critical thinking skills.
It is set to run through 2025 – 2026, with training being led by Lindsay Muir, managing director of Cedar Associates, a management development and business consultancy.
The course will be structured around three theme residential blocks, covering topics such as strategic planning, communication, team leadership, and conflict resolution.
Owing to funding from the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation, and the YPHA Launch Success, the programme is being offered at a subsidised rate, in a bid to make it more easily accessible to individuals and businesses.
Natalie Boynton, YPHA founder, says this course is something the association has been working towards for a “long time”.
“This programme is about building a new generation of confident, capable leaders. Ones who’ll take horticulture forward over the next ten years. It’s also something we’re doing for ourselves – for the committee and core team behind YPHA – to make sure we’re equipped to help the group outlast its founding members.”
There are 12 places available on the course; six for YPHA committee members, and six open to wider membership.
Applicants must already hold some form of management responsibility, and must have had no previous formal leadership training.
Those interested can express early interest by emailing admin@ypha.org.uk. Full details will be shared with all interested applicants later this week, and will also be made available through YPHA’s discord announcement channel.
by | 18 Nov 24 | News
The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) is inviting any businesses or industry leaders to become sponsors for the 2025-26 term.
It is looking to fill 10 supporter and five key partner positions to help support the growth, ambition of the future of the horticultural industry.
It is approaching its fifth birthday the team says it is ‘overwhelmed’ by the response from the wider horticultural community.
“Your contributions have been the lifeblood of our initiatives, enabling us to create dynamic spaces where young professionals can connect, grow, and thrive. Together, we’ve fostered a vibrant community built on innovation, collaboration, and a shared passion for horticulture, in all its versions,” says Natalie Boynton, YPHA founder.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our journey in any way.”
The YPHA team recognises that the next few years are critical in preparing the group to thrive beyond its existing committee and founders.
Its goal is to build a resilient, self-sustaining network that will empower and inspire future generations long after today’s leadership has aged out of the group.
Guy Massey, Production Manager at Rochfords, who were amongst the first to confirm the renewal of their Supporter sponsorship for 2025-2026, shared his appreciation for collaborating with the group.
Massey says: “This organisation stands as a testament to the bright future of the industry, bursting with promising ‘green shoots.
“It has been a privilege to get to know some of the dedicated members and organisers. Our sponsorship has allowed us to be an active part of this inspiring movement and witness the growth in knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment across the field.”
The benefits of sponsorship include being able to enjoy brand exposure across YPHA’s wide-reaching platforms, events, and communications, access to YPHA events, with ‘sponsor’ passes being able to be used even by those who may be beyond typical membership age.
It will also allow companies to directly contribute to the professional development of tomorrow’s leaders in horticulture and allow people to build meaningful relationships with motivated young professionals, industry influencers, and key stakeholders.
Interested businesses are invited to express their interest by contacting admin@ypha.org.uk, with the subject line ‘Expression of Interest’, by Monday 25 November. The sponsorship packages referenced above start at £1000 per annum.
Smaller contributions, of any size, are of course welcomed through the YPHA crowdfunder page, which can be found online.
Until 12 December, anybody supporting through the crowdfunding page who is donating £10 or more, can opt in to receive a festively wrapped gardening book as a thank you for their support.
Elsewhere, the YPHA’s Launch Success Challenge took a big step forward at the end of last month, as it gears up to launch a new species of begonia.
by | 24 Jul 24 | Long Reads, News
The Young People in Horticulture Association is a group that was created to unite those under 35s working in horticulture, to better facilitate collaboration, education, and innovation.
Its primary focus is exploring ways the industry can attract a younger demographic, both as future horticultural employees and as customers for garden centres.
Now well into its fourth year, the YPHA launched its brand-new accelerator programme, The YPHA Launch Success Challenge.
Designed to prioritise and progress many of the skills that horticulture relies upon but often fails to nurture, the association chose ten delegates to take on the challenge and compete to bring to market a brand-new variety of begonia.
Split into two teams, the fully funded programme began with a visit to the Netherlands to learn about product photography and visit young plant production facilities.
“This was the first time we had the opportunity to be introduced to the other successful candidates, so anticipation and excitement was high as we met at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport,” says Molly Parkin, assistant gardener at Cottesbrooke Hall and Gardens.
“Coming from a vast array of horticultural backgrounds and experience, I was eager to get to know the other delegates and start this rewarding accelerator programme.”
The delegates spent the first day of the trip at Floramedia, the European market leader in the creation and production of plant labels, packaging, communication, and marketing services within the horticultural sector.
Breaking down the process from start to finish, Floramedia discussed how to take the ‘DNA’ of a company, which included its core values, vision, and mission, before then looking further into marketing strategies and
why it is important to ensure that the customers’ new brand is following current trends in order to be successful in the retail world. Speaking with Nick Mathias, manager director UK, and Ekko Vermeulen, director of Benelux to learn the ins and outs of the process.
“The group were taken on a tour of the production facilities, so we could see from start to finish, how labels are designed, printed, cut, packaged and sent out to worldwide locations,” says Will Pateman, self-employed gardener and garden design student.
“Understandably, a lot of state-of-the-art technology was featured throughout, which helped them to provide the best quality products at a great speed, to keep up with the demand of their customers’ needs.”
This was followed by an exclusive tour of the plant label production facilities, followed by a masterclass tutorial in studio plant photography in order to demonstrate how the digital art for plant marketing is created.
The group were then taken to Beekenkamp Plants B.V, to see the production process of plants within its site. Beekenkamp is a family run business and has been since 1951. It has grown tremendously since and now has over 2,600 employees worldwide, producing over 2 billion young plants every year, with a total greenhouse area of 90 hectares.
Greeted by marketing manager Annieck Ruijgrok, UK Beekenkamp representative Andy Abbey, and sales manager Jaap Solleved, who delivered a presentation on the history of Beekenkamp Plants and the company’s aims for the future.
Strictly closed to the public due to biosecurity risks, the delegates were honoured to be given a tour of the production facilities, gaining an understanding of how our begonia was bred and rigorously tested to prove its commercial viability.
“As part of the marketing tutorials, we were given the chance to try our hand at a ‘plant photoshoot’. It was a chance for everyone to show off their creative side and make improvements to the look of a plant, as this marketing material would be used for promotional purposes,” says Pateman.
“As it came to the end of our trip, the suspense was finally lifted, and we were able to view our brand new currently unnamed begonia and were able to apply the photography skills we learnt at Floramedia to conduct a photo shoot of the begonia which we can use for future marketing materials,” says Parkin.
On their return, teams will work through a series of seminars and master classes with mentors including Jane Lawler, Michael Perry, and Boyd Douglas-Davies to develop a product identity, calculate commercials, and prepare a pitch to bring together their proposals.
Along the way there will be factory visits, hands-on experiences, and behind-the-scenes learnings, as well as individually tailored support in the form of one-on-one mentorship with business coach, Liz Dowling.
“Visiting the Netherlands is an experience I will always be grateful for, and I can’t wait to unveil our new begonia to the UK Market. The Launch Success Challenge has officially begun!” says Parkin.
Following the results of the The YPHA Launch Success Challenge, an official launch of the new variety of begonia will be held at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025.
Launch Success Challenge is YPHA’s brand new accelerator programme, designed to prioritise and progress many of the skills that horticulture relies upon but often fails to nurture. The programme has been made possible thanks to support and funding from Headline Partner, Peter Moore, plus The British Association of Landscape Industries, Beekenkamp Plants B.V., Westland Horticulture Ltd, Pöppelmann GmbH, the BOA- British Ornamentals Association and The Garden Centre Association. Contributors to the programme include: Michael Perry, Liz Dowling, Floramedia, BBC Gardeners’ World Events, British Garden Centres, Happy Plants Ltd, Glee Birmingham , Jane Lawler and Boyd Douglas-Davies. For more information please visit https://www.ypha.org.uk
by Bethany Vann | 26 Mar 24 | News
Applications for the Young People in Horticulture Association (YHPA) inaugural accelerator programme close at the end of the month, Sunday 31 March.
The Launch Success Challenge, which is designed to prioritise and progress a number of lateral skills needed across horticulture, offers ten scholarship spots to YHPA members, offering hands-on experiences, and behind-the-scenes learning.
Final delegates will compete in teams to bring to market a new, currently unnamed variety of begonia from Beekenkamp Plants; culminating in an official launch at Gardeners’ World Live In June 2025, in partnership with British Garden Centres.
The fully-funded programme commences with a visit to the Netherlands (2-3 July 2024) to visit Beekenkamp Plants B.V. and Floramedia Group for a behind the scenes look into product photography and young plant production facilities.
Additional dates throughout the programme include, 15 July for back to back masterclasses with Michael Perry, also known as Mr Plant Geek and Jane Lawler.
Back to back hands on workshops with Jennie Kwan and Eve Kerrigan on 2 August, as well as a one day training camp with Boy Douglas-Davis on 17 October, followed by a day spent delivering the final product pitches to a panel of experts for assessment on 18 October.
The programme will require 10 days’ commitment over the course of 15 months for the above mentioned activities.
For more information on the YPHA accelerator programme and to enter, visit: https://www.ypha.org.uk/launch-success-challenge
by Bethany Vann | 19 Dec 23 | Domestic Landscaping, Grounds Maintenance, News
The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has announced an additional tier to its member wellbeing provisions, with the appointment of three new mental health first aiders.
This initiative, supported by Charity partner, Perennial, reinforces the association’s ongoing commitment to member wellbeing, says the YPHA.
The newly appointed mental health first aiders are Adam Stewart, director of Utopia Landscapes, George Holmes, horticultural trainee at The MacRobert Trust, and Jess Dabell, brand manager at Meadow View Stone.
Each of them have undergone Mental Health First Aid training courses, hosted and funded by Perennial, with their availability via personal YPHA email addresses providing a confidential and accessible channel for members seeking support.
Their emails are as follows:
Adam Steward – AdamMHFA@ypha.org.uk
George Holmes – GeorgeMHFA@ypha.org.uk
Jess Dabell – JessMHFA@ypha.org.uk
Emily McCurrie, Perennial’s programme manager – health prevention says: “They’re contributing to a great area of need within the industry.
“The charity can’t do this alone and it’s encouraging to see industry workers taking ownership of the mental health agenda and being proactive in taking it forward.”
For more information on YPHA visit ypha.org.uk
For more information about Perennial visit perennial.org.uk
by | 11 Sep 23 | Nature & Biodiversity, News, Supplier News
The Plant Based Podcast, which has been running for 12 series, released its 200th episode on Sunday.
It is run by Michael Perry, director of Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary, founder of People Plants Wellbeing Nature Therapy Consultancy.
“More people than ever are appreciating the importance of plants in our day to day lives. The Plant Based Podcast is about anything that can be traced back to plants… with subjects ranging from foraging for medicinal plants and baking with edible flowers, to plant-based body builders and clothes made from bamboo… This is not just another gardening podcast.” – Michael Perry.
The podcasters were joined by the Young People in Horticulture Association to celebrate.
Discussing how they got into horticulture to what they do now, the YPHA said its “unique stories prove that horticulture can be accessible to anyone with an interest in plants.”
Listen here!
by Nina Mason | 03 May 23 | News, Topics
Membership of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has now hit the 500 mark after just three years. The association has also announced three new additions to its committee.
The YPHA was founded in 2020 to bring together those in the industry aged 30 or under. It was founded by Mollie Higginson, Liam Cleary and Natalie Porter. Abigail Stocker, Lilidh Matthews, Kyle Ross and Sarah Want have joined the committee over the years.
So far this year, Farplants’ Jeremy Costello has also joined the committee as strategy manager, Walberton Nursery’s Megan Warren-Davis has become the YPHA’s social media manager, and Outdoor Living Gardens’ owner John Tallis will support events, as well as future projects around training and education.
Warren-Davis says: “My goal is to help foster the supportive community that YPHA has created, which not only offers career opportunities and educational talks, but also contributes to making horticulture a fun and fulfilling field to be a part of.”
Member Jordan Weston, or the Bearded Botanist, became YPHA’s 500th member. “I am so glad I came across this group of young, likeminded horticulturalists and have been welcomed with open arms. It’s such an exciting time to be part of the horticultural industry and I’m looking forward to sharing this time with the members, getting to know them, sharing knowledge, and hopefully meeting up at various events throughout the year.”
