Tired of seeing trees along your street hacked to pieces in the name of “tree trimming” or road clearing? The Bermuda Botanical Society believes there is a need for more formal training in horticultural and landscaping on the Island.

To this end they award an annual scholarship to people studying in fields related to botany, such as landscaping or garden design.

This year’s recipients of the Bermuda Botanical Society scholarship were Kahnae Bean and Hutson Carter II.

Ms Bean was awarded $5,000 towards her second year of a Bachelor of Science degree course (Hons) in Environmental Management at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It is the second year she has received a scholarship from the Bermuda Botanical Society.

“She has done very well in the last year,” said Nigel Chudleigh, president of the Bermuda Botanical Society. “We enjoyed getting feedback from her during her course, telling us how much she was enjoying her studies, and how much she was suffering from the cold in England.”

Mr Carter was awarded $2,000 towards the second, and final, year of a course leading to an Associates degree in Horticulture (Turf Management) at Florida Gateway College, in the United States. Mr Carter also won the Garden Club of Bermuda scholarship, this year.

Mr Chudleigh said they have awarded the scholarship on and off for several years, but have done it regularly for the last five years.

“The number of people applying seems to vary from year to year,” he said. “Last year we had very few applicants and this year we had a dozen or more. There certainly seems to be a lot of interest in environmental sciences.”

The Bermuda Botanical Society’s main fundraiser for the scholarship is an annual plant sale, which will be held this year on October 25 in the JJ Outerbridge building of the Botanical Gardens. For the first time their sale will be held in conjunction with that of the Bermuda Rose Society.

For information on applying to the Bermuda Botanical Scholarship see www.bermudascholarships.com.