Students set to showcase skills at prestigious horticultural event

Students at Derby College Group are preparing to take centre stage at one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural events.

Students from the college’s Practical Horticulture and Landscaping course are set to attend BBC Gardeners’ World Live, which begins at NEC Birmingham on Thursday.

The students will present their original show garden, ‘The Artist’s Garden’, which marks another milestone in the college’s remarkable 25-year tradition of creating award-winning show gardens for this national showcase.

Inspired by the real garden of a Derbyshire artist, the design reflects more than 70 years of creative evolution shaped by both the artist and her parents, in a life where art, making and growing are deeply intertwined.

The garden measures 11 metres wide by 9 metres deep, and has been designed by garden designer Denise Rice, working collaboratively with the Derby College students and the artist on the concept and detailed planting plan.

The students at DCG’s Broomfield Hall site in Morley, Ilkeston, will construct and plant the entire garden themselves, applying the full range of skills developed throughout their study programme.

The college’s horticulture study programme at Broomfield Hall brings together skills in surveying, design, plantsmanship and construction, and is ideal for students who wish to establish a career or business in horticulture and landscaping.

Paul Brady, teacher of horticulture at Derby College Group, 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 are rising to it brilliantly.

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

“I am enormously proud of what they are achieving.”

This year’s entry follows the college’s Silver Gilt-winning Buddhist Vihara Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025 – and continues a proud tradition stretching back over 25 years of the college presenting show gardens at the event.