Racing ahead in the garden stakes

Shuttleworth College students are through to the finals of a prestigious Young Gardeners of the Year competition.

Pioneered by TV Gardener David Domoney in association with The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, the event has been launched ahead of the build of the gardens at the brand-new Ascot Spring Garden Show this April.

The competition celebrates young British ‘green’ talent and sees six of the UK’s leading horticultural colleges go head-to-head to create show-stopping, sustainable gardens that will be seen by thousands of visitors at the Ascot show.

The Prince’s Foundation sets clear guidelines based on organic and sustainable principles and the importance of gardens. The Young Gardeners are tasked with creating a show garden that will capture the imagination and inspire the judges and visitors, using clever plant association and design techniques.

Racing ahead in the garden stakes PR Story

Simon Sadinsky, Head of Education at The Prince’s Foundation’s said: “We are thrilled to have once again helped launch the Young Gardeners of the Year competition with David Domoney and some of the country’s most enthusiastic young gardeners. As in past years, this year we are asking participants to provide a particular focus within their gardens on the principles of sustainability, paying attention to issues such as the use of local, natural materials and the implementation of SuDS(Sustainable Drainage Systems).

“The creativity of past years has shown us that no matter how small the space, we can all incorporate natural environments into our busy urban lives and we are greatly looking forward to seeing what is produced this year.”

This year’s Young Gardeners of the Year gardens will be judged by an expert panel, which includes horticultural industry leaders, home and garden magazine editors, and acclaimed garden designers and landscapers. Entrants will compete to win gold, silver gilt, silver, or bronze awards. The overall winner will receive the Best in Show trophy, and visitors will be able to vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

The 2018 participating colleges are:
Capel Manor, Middlesex
Pershore College, Part of the Warwickshire College Group
Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire
Writtle University College, Essex (2017 champions)
Myerscough College, Lancashire
Reaseheath College, Cheshire

Each are given a 5m x 4.5m plot.

David Domoney, organiser of the competition said:

To date we have given more than 600 garden landscaping and design students the opportunity to build gardens at a national event before they even leave the college gates. It’s always a great privilege to see great British talent come together to compete for the title of Best Young Gardeners of the Year, and with this year’s focus on front gardens, I can’t wait to see them come to life.

At Ascot they will have five days to build and plant their gardens in the Garden Terrace on Ascot’s Grandstand ready for the Show’s opening day on 13th April 2018.”

Each garden will then be judged by an esteemed panel of ambassadors and curators.

The Ascot Spring Garden Show opens from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th April. Tickets are on sale now
and can be booked via Ascot.co.uk/gardenshow

Keep up-to-date with the show’s developments on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook #AscotGardenShow

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Shuttleworth College students are through to the finals of a prestigious Young Gardeners of the Year competition.

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Racing ahead in the garden stakes

Shuttleworth College students are through to the finals of a prestigious Young Gardeners of the Year competition.

The latest from The Bedford College Group