The Vicky Schilling Bursary
The Vicky Schilling Bursary is primarily aimed at giving enthusiastic people the chance to travel in the UK and Ireland to discover and record trees, or help update and improve data already held on the Tree Register.
Funding of up to £1,000 per project is available for successful applicants whose project is approved by the Bursary Committee.
Download the bursary guidelines and application form
Open to all amateur and student gardeners/horticulturists and serious tree enthusiasts.
Who can apply? Which projects receive funding? Where can the project take place? What can the bursary funds be used for?
Who was Vicky Schilling?
Born Victoria Hallett in Burgess Hill, W. Sussex, in 1952, the fourth generation of her family to be born there. Her grandfather was gamekeeper at the nearby Heaselands Estate owned by the Kleinwort family which was noted for its formal and woodland gardens including ornamental trees and spectacular displays of native bluebells in spring.
It was Vicky who, together with Alan Mitchell, founded the Tree Register of the British Isles in 1988 and who subsequently became the central figure in the growth and development of the Tree Register. Vicky’s contribution in the formative years of the Charity was unequalled and reflected her passion for trees.
Vicky married Tony Schilling VMH a horticultural consultant, lecturer and author. Retired Curator of Wakehurst Place, “Kew in the country” and plant hunter.
Following a relatively short illness, Vicky Schilling died aged 67 on 23rd November 2019. She leaves a legacy of tireless endeavour in the recording of notable trees and a growing awareness of their historical value and their continuing contribution to the health of our planet. Tony helped set up the Vicky Schilling Bursary in 2019 in her memory.
Rhododendron ‘Victoria Hallett’
Rhododendron ‘Victoria Hallett’, named after Vicky Schilling (née Hallett), flowering superbly at High Beeches, West Sussex, in March 2021.
(Photo: Sarah Bray)
RHS Chelsea
Vicky with an early display of photos and data on champion trees at the 1990 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Commemorative tree for Vicky
At the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire, Curator David Jewell (2019), dedicated a Quercus x schneideri to the memory of Vicky.
David said “Following a discussion with Roy (Lancaster), we both agreed that it would be a very nice gesture to dedicate a tree in her memory. I gather Quercus frainetto was one of her personal favourite trees (and mine too) but we already have a good number in the gardens and so I decided to have a good look around for an alternative Oak, hence my suggestion of Quercus x schneideri. It is located near our outdoor concert arena area and is close to the main visitor centre, thereby providing easy accessibility for personal or professional friends of Vicky to visit.”
“At the moment the tree is 5.6m tall with a spread of 3.6 metres and 12.1cm girth. It is a one off Allen Coombes special and, as per his advice, I will circulate some acorns and share material with other gardens. It has survived recent hot summers and wet winters particularly well and, at nearly 10 years old, is already well established.”
Photo – David Jewell (left) and Tree Register Trustee, Roy Lancaster, with the newly dedicated Quercus x schneideri (Photo: Marc White)