Silver lining for students’ show garden

Horticulture students at Derby College Group are celebrating after winning a medal for their show garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live event at the NEC.

The team won a silver gilt medal in the Professional category for their ‘Restoration Garden’, which pays tribute to Wingfield Station, a once a forgotten and dilapidated Victorian gem, which has now been beautifully restored.

The students, who are all studying Level 3 Horticulture at the college’s Broomfield Hall site, created their show garden working with the Derbyshire Historic Building Trust who are currently restoring this important site.

The horticulture study programme, which has been specially devised by the horticulture lecturer, Mike Baldwin, to bring together skills and knowledge in surveying, design, plantsmanship and construction – ideal for students who want to establish a gardening business.

Mike said: “It is a brilliant result and so well deserved. The students have been working incredibly hard to create the garden and have really worked as a team.

“The outstanding garden is full of highly imaginative planting, great structures and many unique features, which all impressed the judges.

“And while it is not just about the award, it’s lovely to see the students efforts recognised.”