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Irish horticulturist wins Young Horticulturist of the Year 2025

Pictured: (L-R) David Richardson of CIoH; Claire Woods of Hillsborough Castle; Gareth Austin; Sarah Simpson, Young Horticulturist of the Year 2025; Dr Paul Fitters YHOY Regional Co-ordinator Ireland; Dr Sandra Austin, YHOY Regional Co-ordinator Ireland; Joe Croke of CIoH Ireland Branch and Cathríona McCrudden (Image credit Anthony O’Connor)

Sarah Simpson becomes the first Irish winner in years to take home the prestigious title, following a hard-fought grand final at Hillsborough Castle

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Horticulture

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14 May 2025

The Grand Final of The Young Horticulturist of the Year (YHOY) 2025 was held on 10 May 2025.  

The competition is administered by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIoH), and this year it fell to CIoH Ireland Branch to host the Grand Final.  

CIoH members, distinguished guests, contestants, friends and family gathered at Hillsborough Castle, Co. Down, for a final that saw victory on home turf for the Irish contestant, Sarah Simpson.  

All were warmly welcomed by the Historic Royal Palaces team, led by Claire Woods, head Gardener at Hillsborough Castle. 

Each year, YHOY sees the top eight young horticulturists from across the UK and Ireland battle it out for the prestigious title of Young Horticulturist of the Year.  

These young competitors (all of whom must be under the age of 30 to compete) have already fought off stiff competition through several rounds – Round 1 of the contest is a virtual multiple-choice quiz which runs throughout the month of February; those who progress to Round 2 compete in one of eight Regional Finals, which have quiz format similar to the Grand Final.  

The winner from each Regional Final qualifies to represent their region in the Grand Final. 

The Grand Final turns up the heat, with a 10-round live quiz, which includes a mixture of buzzer and directed rounds, combined with Plant ID and Pest, Weed and Disease identification rounds.

The day began with a welcome from Victoria George, YHOY Co-ordinator, and Joe Croke, Chair of the Ireland Branch of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIoH).  

This was followed by the presentation of two CIoH awards by David Richardson, CIoH President.  

The 2024 Norah Stucken Award, in recognition of significant contribution to horticulture, was presented to Eileen Sung for her impactful work on sustainability and conservation in and around Belfast.  

The 2025 President’s Award was presented to Gabriel Roe, FCIHort, in grateful recognition of his longstanding service as Treasurer of CIoH.

While the contestants began the competition with silent deliberation over a variety of plant specimens for the Identification rounds of the quiz, all other attendees were treated to a guided tour of the spectacular Hillsborough Castle Gardens, expertly led by Head gardener Claire Woods. 

Following a delicious lunch, the real business of the day began, with a hotly-contested and thrilling 10-round Quiz, from which Sarah emerged a worthy winner. 

Sarah is a Horticultural Technician at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, found in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.  

This is Sarah’s second time representing Ireland in the YHOY Grand Final; they also competed and came fourth in the 2022 Grand Final, held at Warwick University. 

As well as their Certificate and the prestigious title of Young Horticulturist of the Year, Sarah also receives the £2500 Percy Thrower Trust Travel Bursary, sponsored by the Shropshire Horticultural Society.  

All finalists also take home a certificate and cash prize courtesy of the Shropshire Horticultural Society, a set of Bulldog garden tools, and a copy of “Plant Names Simplified’, signed and presented by the author, Adrian Stockdale.

Ireland’s participation in YHOY is made possible through the sponsorship of Bord Bia.

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