Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group research has found 24% of people working in the landscaping industry identify as women and in the overall ornamental horticulture sector, 38%.
Some 38 of the 191 Victoria Medals of Honour awarded since 1897 have gone to women. Jekka McVicar VMH said: “Sadly there are very few women VMH’s. I’m proud to be a holder but there are so many women who are eminently worthy.” She suggested Sarah Eberle, Sarah Raven (after they finish on RHS Council), Jinny Blom, Janet Cubey, Cynthia Ann Brown (manager Horticulture Collections Smithsonian Gardens USA) and Ira Wallace (Harvest Heritage Virginia USA). Current women with VMH include McVicar, Carol Klein, Lady Skelmersdale and Viscountess of Merton.
BALI’s State of Trade Survey 2020 shows a 57.1% male to 42.8% female split.
The Society of Garden Designers (SGD’s) general survey in 2020, 70% of respondents were women vs 30% men. In 2015, Horticulture Week identified the same proportion with 70% of SGD’s 1,041 members were female.
Most of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show top prizes and show garden contracts are won by men. Sarah Eberle won Chelsea best in show in 2007. Arabella Lennox Boyd won the accolade in 1998 and Julie Toll in 1993. The best in show award began in 1984. Star garden designers only started to be named alongside their designs in 1976. There have been 74/235 show garden designed or…
