The Merlin Trust

Registered Charity No. 803441

Founded in 1990 by Valerie Finnis VMH

Application for a horticultural travel grant

Eligibility Criteria

  • Horticulturists of British or Irish citizenship resident in Britain or Ireland only. Foreign citizens may apply but must be studying in a British or Irish horticultural training establishment
  • 18-35 years of age or if over 35 years then within first 5 years of a career in horticulture
  • Applications invited at any time of yearandat least 3 months before travel, applications may be considered a minimum of 6 weeks before travel, but with reasons for the lateness of the application submitted to the secretary
  • Maximum grant available £1500
  • Completed application form to be submitted electronically to and a signed hard copy to the address on the last page of this application form

Successful applicants

  • Must return any unspent funds immediately to the Merlin Trust
  • Must ensure they have travel insurance and it is advised that this is taken out on receipt of the grant awarded
  • Must submit to the secretary by registered mail a written report (including account of finances) of their project within 3 months of return (2 bound hard copies and 1 compressedPDF electronic copy by email(approx. 5MB max)
  • Must permit the publication of their report on the Merlin Trust website
  • Will be considered for two annual prizes awarded by the Trustees, the Christopher Brickell Prize for the best written report and the Valerie Finnis VMH Prize for the report demonstrating photographic excellence

PERSONAL DETAILS

SURNAME: / FIRST NAME: / DATE OF BIRTH: / NATIONALITY:
WORK ADDRESS: / CORRESPONDENCE/HOME ADDRESS:
EMAIL: / EMAIL:
TELEPHONE: / TELEPHONE:
CURRENT JOB TITLE AND EMPLOYER OR COURSE OF STUDY AND COLLEGE:
PREVIOUS APPLICATION TO THE MERLIN TRUST AND OUTCOME:

PROJECT DETAILS

PROJECT TITLE:
PROJECT LOCATION:
DEPARTURE DATE AND DURATION:
GRANT REQUESTED:
PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION:
Project description

Please provide a description of your proposed project. Explain what you expect to achieve and how you feel it will be of benefit to yourself and to other horticulturists, maximum 1 page, minimum font size 11pt.

Itinerary

Please give a full itinerary for the duration of your trip, including dates and locations, maximum 1 page, minimum font size 11pt.

Budget

Please complete in full even if this exceeds the grant requested

TRAVEL: / AIR FARE / £
TRAIN FARE: / £
CAR HIRE: / £
FUEL: / £
OTHER: (please list) / £
SUBSISTENCE: / ACCOMODATION: / £
FOOD: / £ ………. per day for ………….days
OTHER COSTS: / VISA: / £
INSURANCE: / £
TOTAL / £
OTHER GRANT APPLICATIONS MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROJECT:
ORGANISATION: / AMOUNT REQUESTED: / CURRENT SITUATION:
ORGANISATION: / AMOUNT REQUESTED: / CURRENT SITUATION:
ORGANISATION: / AMOUNT REQUESTED: / CURRENT SITUATION:
Horticultural Curriculum Vitae

Please insert your relevant horticultural c.v. (your c.v. will not be considered if submitted as a separate document, it must be included below, maximum 1 page, minimum font size 11pt.

References

Please provide the names of two horticultural referees. They should not be relatives and should have known you for at least two years. Please ask them to forward their confidential references direct to the Secretary at the address below, within a fortnight of your application. Applications will not be considered without references.

NAME: / NAME:
POSITION: / POSITION:
ADDRESS: / ADDRESS:
E-MAIL: / E-MAIL:
TELEPHONE: / TELEPHONE:
APPLICANT SIGNATURE: / DATE:

Please email you completed application to: info@merlin-trust .org.uk

Please also post your completed and signed application to:

Sarah Carlton

Alpine Department

RHS Wisley Garden

Wisley Lane

Woking

Surrey

GU23 6QB

Please note that the Merlin Trust will not be liable for any insurance claim and that it is the responsibility of the applicants to provide adequate insurance for themselves.

Trustees:Sally Petitt (Chairman), Jim Jermyn, Fiona Crumley, Jonathan Miller,

Katie Price, Paul Cook.

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