A PERSHORE horticulture student has been named the regional winner of a prestigious industry award and now has his sights set on the national title.
Josh Reid, 21, was awarded British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) Chalk Fund Best Landscape Student of the Year.
He has just completed a Level 3 course in Horticulture at Pershore College and is now heading to Birmingham City University to study Landscape Architecture.
Josh will represent the Midlands at the BALI National Landscape Awards in December and compete with the other regional winners to win the coveted National Landscape Top Student of the Year Award.
BALI is the UK’s largest trade association for professional garden designers, landscapers and ground maintenance contractors.
The BALI Chalk Fund, set up in memory of a founding member of the British Association of Landscape Industries, supports education and training in the landscape sector.
It seeks to recognise the achievements of landscape students who have excelled in their studies.
Josh said: “I was really surprised when I got the letter to be honest. I wasn’t expecting it at all.
“I’ve always been a creative individual, so when I started studying horticulture I was trying to find out what might be my creative passion and it turned out that landscape architecture was perfect for me.
“In the future I hope to work in urban environments by creating more green space in those areas and that’s what was reflected when putting me forward for the award.
“My tutor suggested we put my name forward for the BALI Chalk Fund award but I really didn’t think I had a chance of winning it.
“The staff at Pershore College have been brilliant in their support of me and my development and I’ll be sad to part with them when I move to study in Birmingham.
“I’m looking forward to the national ceremony now and it would be special to win the overall prize.”
Josh spent four years studying at Pershore College from Level 1 to Level 3, and he discovered his passion for landscape architecture under the tutelage of Clive Evans.
Clive, who is a tutor in landscaping at the college, added: “Over the course of the four years Josh spent with us he worked really hard, applied himself well and to receive this award is recognition of that hard work.
“During his time here he has been heavily involved in a number of initiatives, including representing the college in the WorldSkills competitions.
“We don’t always nominate students for this award, but Josh stood out and we decided it would be a good idea to put him forward.
“It’s great for Pershore College to have one of our student win this honour and we look forward to following his future career closely.”
Visit www.wcg.ac.uk/horticulture or call 0300 456 0049 for more.
