Show garden medal glory for college’s horticultural students

Horticulture students from Derby College Group are celebrating after a garden they designed scooped a prize at one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural events.

They recently won a Silver Medal at BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC Birmingham, with their show garden ‘The Artist’s Garden’.

It was designed and built entirely by students on the college’s adult part-time Level 3 Horticulture Practical Skills course, based at its Broomfield Hall site in Morley.

The project was constructed by the entire student group over a three-week period, under the guidance of course tutor Paul Brady.

Inspired by the real garden of a Derbyshire artist, ‘The Artist’s Garden’ reflects more than 70 years of creative evolution shaped by the artist and her parents, in a life where art, making and growing are deeply intertwined.

Paul said: “This is exactly the kind of real-world challenge that brings out the very best in our students.

“Designing and constructing a show garden for BBC Gardeners’ World Live requires every skill they have developed on the programme: plantsmanship, construction, design and teamwork, and they have risen to it brilliantly.

“The concept of The Artist’s Garden is beautiful, and the students threw themselves into every detail of the build with incredible dedication.

“I am enormously proud of what they have achieved.”

The college’s tradition of creating award-winning show gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live stretches back more than 25 years, including a Silver Gilt for the Buddhist Vihara Garden in 2025, a Platinum Award in 2024, and a Silver Merit Award in 2023.

Jon Collins, vice principal of Derby College Group, said: “This Silver Medal is a wonderful achievement and one that every student involved can be enormously proud of.

“Year after year, our horticulture students prove that they are more than capable of competing at the very highest level on a national stage, and ‘The Artist’s Garden’ is yet another shining example of the talent, dedication and teamwork that defines learning at Derby College Group.

“It is a privilege to watch this tradition of excellence continue to grow.”