A RENOWNED horticulture college celebrated a double success at the prestigious RHS Malvern Spring Festival.
Pershore College, which is part of college group WCG, had two gardens on show at the event and saw an apprentice win a regional prize.
Horticultural therapy centre Link Nurseries, also part of WCG, had a presence at the show to showcase the work of its Well Bean Gardening Club.
Around 30 supported learning students from the college were involved in the design and delivery of a J.R.R Tolkien inspired garden called ‘Return to the Shire’ which was presented at the show.
The garden delivered on the RHS theme of ‘Bring a Book to Life’ and the judges recognised the efforts of the students by commending the garden with a silver prize.
Louise Badham, head of department for Supported Learning at WCG, said it was a great moment for the teenagers.
“Students were involved from conception to completion of the garden and the feedback from the judges and general public was overwhelmingly positive.
Josh Pascoe, an apprentice at Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries and Pershore College, was named Crop Technician Level 3 Apprentice of the Year by the Midlands Regional Growers Group at the show.
The 32-year-old from South Wales took the plunge to follow his passion of horticulture and left a council office job.
The award recognises a student who has pushed themselves above and beyond to excel in the workplace and in their education and Josh received his trophy from respected author and presenter Frances Tophill.
“To win this award is a proud moment, I have some great course mates and any one of them could have won it,” he said.
Pershore College Garden Centre and Nursery had a stand at the show, selling a wide range of plants and showcasing its range of peat-free plants. It also received four stars from judges for its flowers.
Link Nurseries were joined on their stand by students from Regency High School in Worcester and spread the word about the therapeutic work which takes place at Link.
The display included four boxes from the centre’s Well Bean Gardening Club, a club in which members are given a 4ft-by-4ft box to grow flowers and vegetables.
Josh Egan-Wyer, Head of Horticulture at Pershore College, added: “The RHS Malvern Spring Festival is always a key date in our college group calendar and we look forward to returning again next year.”
