Grants are available to support research on any aspect of alpine plants. We also administer travel awards to aid the study of alpine plants in their native habitats.

The Hendry Fund

The Hendry Fund provides grants for specific alpine-related projects. These projects can involve research on any aspect of alpine plants in the wild or in cultivation.

The fund is named after Ms. Evelyn F. Hendry, who bequeathed a significant part of her estate to the AGS in 1993. This legacy was used to establish the fund which is administered by the AGS and is used to further the Society’s charitable objectives.

What projects are supported?

Example topics include work on plant systematics, physiology, ecology, cultivation and propagation. While studies can involve fieldwork, travel cost is not the primary purpose of the fund.

The Hendry Fund can also support the development of alpine gardens and educational projects on alpine plants.

AGS Travel Awards

The Society administers a limited number of travel awards each year. These are designed to support enthusiasts wishing to gain field experience in the serious study of alpine plants in their native habitats.

What projects are supported?

Applications should be for clearly defined projects. On occasion, awards have been made to AGS Tour participants if the excursion complements a particular area of interest.

How to apply

To apply for the Hendry Fund or AGS Travel Awards, please download an application form via the link below. You can also download our guideline to applications.

The deadline is the 31 January every year.

Candidates will hear if they have been successful by the end of March.

Below are some helpful guidelines to consider and observe when completing your application for any AGS grant or award.

Plant & Seed Collection

1. Would seed be available for distribution after your journey?
2. Would plant imagery be available for the Society’s use?

Please note: If you propose to collect plants, herbarium specimens or seeds, it’s necessary to outline exactly how you propose to proceed. What advice are you seeking and do you have professional backing from a recognised botanical institute?

It is essential that you demonstrate a clear understanding of the legal restriction of plant and seed collection in your chosen area and the formalities to be observed when importing into the UK.

The Society does not impose a general prohibition on collecting, but does expect:

i. Careful observance of the rules, both in the UK and abroad, and

ii. A responsible attitude on the part of those collecting.

Further Guidance

• Any award is dependent on the area visited yielding information on alpine or rock plants regarded as hardy in the UK.
• The relevance of your journey in relation to your work and/or studies will be considered.
• A principle requirement of any award is the submission of a written account of your journey within six months of your return.
• The Society reserves the right to publish award reports in its journal and on the website.
• Any applicant related to a Trustee of the Alpine Garden Society must declare this on their application.

Merlin Trust

External to the Alpine Garden Society, travel grants are available for young horticulturists from the Merlin Trust. The Trust was founded by the late Valerie Finnis VMH in 1990.

Awards have been offered in conjunction with the AGS in the past. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be enthusiastic about plants with a particular interest in alpines
• Be between the age of 18- 35 years or in your first 5 years of a career in horticulture
• Have British or Irish citizenship (students of other nationalities are eligible if studying at a UK horticultural training institution).

How to apply

To register your interest for when these grants become available, please email your contact details to ags@alpinegardensociety.net with ‘Merlin Trust Grants’ as the subject.

For more information, please visit the Merlin Trust website.

Grants from other organisations

Details of other grant-awarding organisations can be found on the Chartered Institute of Horticulture website.