Garden and greenhouse student exchange amended

The UKs Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has revealed a change to a garden and greenhouse educational scholarship.

According to the body, the Martin McLaren scheme will now have a less academic focus.

For 60 years, the programme has seen one Brit and one US garden and greenhouse enthusiast swap countries to learn the techniques of the other nation.

It has, until now, focused on swapping horticultural graduates, with a UK graduate studying the first year of a masters degree in the States, while an American expert would spend ten months studying in Britain.

However, the 2010/11 intake will allow less academically qualified individuals to apply, with more of a focus on practical work experience.

The deadline for the newly altered scheme is October 31st, with the Gardening Club of America (GCA) administering things on this side of the Atlantic.

According to the GCA, the RHS and McLaren Trust have historically covered the cost of transport, board, housing and course tuition at Reading University in the UK.