Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust see the Christopher Lloyd Bursary as a way of giving something back to the horticultural world by creating opportunities for trainee or young gardeners to widen their experience and gain inspiration from experts in the UK or abroad by travelling to, and/or learning in, horticulturally interesting places, attending courses and conferences and studying plants in the wild.

Nurseries who attend the Great Dixter Plant Fairs support the fund by giving 10% of their takings.

Applications are invited for up to a maximum of £1,500 with preference being given to applicants who might struggle to find funding from established organsations or institutes (Kew or Wisley applicants should first approach their own bursary providers). Applications with connections to the style of gardening and ethos of Great Dixter are preferred.

How to apply:

For travel, please provide a CV and a description of your trip, including planned expenditure. We would also like to know where else you have applied and how much of the trip you plan to fund yourself.

Successful applicants will be required to write about their experience within a month of their return. This could be in the form of a written report, a blog, an Instagram feed or other means but ideally something that can be shared on Dixter’s social media or website! They may also be asked to come and give a short talk to Great Dixter staff and Friends.

For training, please provide details of the course or conference you wish to attend, potential expenditure (including travel) and a short explanation of how the training will benefit you.

Successful applicants will be asked to send in a photo of themselves along with a brief paragraph about their training for our website.

To discuss the application process further or to apply please email: [email protected]

Deadlines for applications during the year are 1st April and 1st October. Applications will only be considered at these times.

Applicants will be informed of the decisions within two weeks of the deadlines. Only applications from EU residents are accepted.

In 2019 we awarded Daniel Monge £150 towards his trip to the National Tropical Botanical Garden of Kauai in Hawaii in early 2020.  Below is an account of his trip. 

“When I arrived in Hawaii I felt overwhelmed. Everything was different and the number of plants I was unable to recognise was a harsh reminder of the expression “plant blindness”, however, these three weeks at National Tropical Botanical Gardens (NTBG) truly were eye opening.

I was introduced to many departments at NTBG giving me a broad picture of how a botanic garden can contribute to the fight against extinction by promoting education, volunteering and conservation projects. I was involved in all the steps necessary to help endangered species to reproduce, grow and survive both inside and outside the gardens. Additionally, I was able to experience and learn about different ways to work with plants and nature in general. During my two weeks at the McBride Garden and one week at Limahuli Garden I had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of horticultural activities. Amongst other things, I helped control invasive non-native plants, assisted in maintaining high profile areas, built fences in preserve areas to protect endangered species, propagated ferns by spores and outplanted endangered species in the garden (ex-situ) and in the wild (in-situ).

Thank you to The Christopher Lloyd Bursary and The RHS Coke Trust Bursary Fund for financing this project. This experience helped in-still me with self-confidence that with horticulture I can have an impact on, and be involved in, conservation. It gave me confidence in my abilities to adapt and learn, which is essential in this industry, because in Nature change is the norm. It motivated me to expand my knowledge of tropical plants and to pursue my ultimate goal of traveling with horticulture and discovering new ways to work and cohabit with plants.”

In 2019 we awarded £500 to Jo Wilson who qualified with distinction in her postgraduate diploma in garden design, with the British Academy of Garden Design.

In 2019 we awarded £500 to Jo Wilson (shown left) who qualified with distinction in her postgraduate diploma in garden design, with the British Academy of Garden Design.

“Great Dixter was generous enough to award me with half the course costs, so I wanted to get in touch as soon as possible. I am overjoyed, having completed the course in 15 months; it’s been intense, but extremely rewarding, and it means I can now begin my garden design, consultancy and maintenance business in earnest; with a particular focus on biodiversity and sustainability.”

Previous awards

Jo Wilson, Garden Design Course, August 2020, £500 

Michael Wachter, Slovenia, May 2018, £300

Lisa Rue, Slovenia, May 2018, £160.

Rosie Anderson, Slovenia May 2018, £300.

Jamie McCormick, Himalayas, August 2017, £600

Eve Halliday, USA, July 2017, £600

Josh Taylor, RHS level 2 course, June 2017, £600

David Bull, USA, May 2017, £400

Christina Clowser, Italy, April 2017, £400

Harry Baldwin, USA, April 2017, £200

Rebecca Lane, Alhambra and Sierra Nevada, April 2017, £600 (shown right)

Olivia Steed- Munden, USA, April 2017, £200

Sean Harkin, USA, Autumn 2012, £500

Hannah Wilson, Vietnam, October 2011, £1500