Success for Brinsbury Campus young gardeners at horticultural exhibition

The Prince of Wales spoke to the students individually about their garden creation, and he was keen to know what they would go on to do in the industry when they left college.

David highlighted to Prince Charles that since the competition was created four years ago, over 250 gardening, design, building and horticultural students had gained experience of creating a professional show garden before they have even left the college gates. Importantly, many have gone on to rewarding positions in the garden industry.

The Prince of Wales was introduced and spoke to the Ideal Young Gardeners of the Year tutors and student winners of Chichester College at a VIP reception held at the Ideal Home Show.

The Young Gardeners of the Year competition is organised by ITV’s David Domoney in association with the Princes Foundation, encouraging green shoots to get into horticulture as a career.

TV Gardener David Domoney has announced Chichester College the winner of the fourth annual Ideal Young Gardeners of the Year Award, in association with The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community at the launch of this year’s Ideal Home Show’s at London’s Earls Court.

Celebrated for their ‘Refreshing the Pallet’ garden, students from Chichester College were presented with their award by TV Gardeners David Domoney and Diarmuid Gavin at the opening of the Ideal Home Show.

There will also be an additional award voted for by the visiting public; The People’s Choice Award will be given at the end of the Ideal Home Show when the show’s quarter of a million visitors have voted for their favorite.

This year the students created gardens to inspire city dwellers, showing just what can be achieved with a small space.

The gardens were designed to create a calm space away from the pressures of urban living. The colleges used recycled and repurposed materials and gave special attention to wildlife with water features and insect hotels.

David Domoney Garden Designer at the Ideal Home Show and organiser of the Young Gardeners of the Year competition commented: “The outstanding quality and ingenuity of the gardens this year have impressed the judging panel and I am sure they will wow visitors to the show.”

Following the success of previous years, the six UK colleges went head-to-head to create an inspirational and sustainable show garden to be showcased for the next 17 days, in the forecourt of Earls Court for the 106th Ideal Home Show, running March 14th – 30th.

This year’s gardens were judged by a panel of esteemed judges - TV gardener David Domoney, TV Gardener Diarmuid Gavin, Edith Platten, Director of Skills from The Prince’s Foundation, Julia Goodwin, Editor of House Beautiful magazine, Leigh Morris, Associate Director of Horticulture (Learning) Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and President, Institute of Horticulture, Carol Paris, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trade Association and Horticulturalist Neil Domoney, David’s brother.

Mark Howard, lecturer in horticulture at Chichester College, said: “After winning the last two competitions the pressure was really on this year.

“The students put blood, sweat and tears into it, and they have been on a journey that has seen them support each other to complete a project to an incredibly high standard.”

Edith Platten of The Prince’s Foundation said: “With the help of an array of talented young gardeners we are once again highlighting the importance of green spaces in urban living, and the amazing things you can do with even the smallest amount of space.

“The variety of quality and creativity in the entries always amaze us, and this year’s entrants certainly maintained the high standard we’ve come to expect showcasing their creative talent.”

The design brief given to the colleges required them to show sustainability and utilise clever plant association.

The Prince’s Foundation set clear guidelines based on organic and sustainable principles that the charity’s president, The Prince of Wales, has for so long championed.

The competition, in association with The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, celebrates young ‘green’ talent and six of the UK’s leading horticultural colleges went head-to-head to create a show stopping sustainable garden visited by thousands of visitors at the Ideal Home Show

The 2014 participating colleges were:

Chichester college, Sussex (2012, 2013 and 2014 Champions) – Gold award and Best at Show

Capel Manor, Middlesex (2011 Champions) – Gold award

Writtle College, Essex – Gold award

Askham Bryan College, North Yorkshire – Silver-Gilt award

Bridgwater College, Somerset – Silver-Gilt award

Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire – Silver award

The Ideal Home Show London will run until 30th March 2014 at London’s Earls Court. Tickets can be either booked online via www.idealhomeshow.co.uk or purchased at the door.

Report contributed by by AOBPR, on behalf of ITV’s David Domoney.