Students studying Practical Horticulture and Landscaping at Derby College Group (DCG) are preparing to take centre stage at one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural events, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, held at the NEC Birmingham from 18 to 21 June 2026.
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. Blending artistic expression with the practical charm of a traditional country cottage garden, the space features a vibrant palette of herbaceous perennials framing a floral-clad rustic arch, a willow arbour constructed from locally grown willow, an informal pathway of reclaimed Bonsall limestone inlaid with handcrafted fine china mosaics, a small orchard with informal seating and meadow grass underfoot, and productive vegetable beds at the garden’s heart.
Sculptural elements throughout the garden draw inspiration from the work of the artist’s father, celebrating creativity across generations. In keeping with the college’s commitment to sustainability, the majority of the project uses only locally sourced and reclaimed natural materials, and all components will be dismantled, rehomed and repurposed after the show.
A vision brought to life
The garden measures 11 metres wide by 9 metres deep, and has been designed by Denise Rice, Garden Designer, working collaboratively with the DCG 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.
“This garden is a deeply personal celebration of one remarkable woman’s creative life and the generations of artistry that shaped it. Every element has been thoughtfully chosen, from the mosaic pathway pieces that help tell her story to the sculptural forms inspired by her father’s work. Together, we have collaborated to create the structural elements within the garden, learning new skills along the way and enjoying the creative journey as a team. The garden mosaics were all handmade by me using lovingly donated china, bringing both sustainability and a strong sense of personal meaning to the design. Working with the students at Derby College Group to bring this vision to life has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Sharing the creative process with them has been a real pleasure, and I am excited to see the finished garden showcased at the NEC at Gardeners’ World Live.”
Denise Rice, Show Garden Designer, The Garden Spirit (Garden design and services with nature and nurture at its heart)
Incredible Dedication
“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.”
Paul Brady, Teacher of Horticulture, Derby College Group
“Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) and Derbyshire Historic Gardens (DHG) have supported the creation of the Artist’s Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2026; both contributing towards elements of it. DHBT has also acted as an advisor to the project. The Trust is a charitable organisation dedicated to the protection of historic buildings across Derbyshire and is currently working in partnership with the artist to support the preservation of her family estate, which includes a historically significant cottage garden featuring sculptures created by her artist father. DHBT also participated in the judging of the DCG student show garden designs.
DHBT partnered the students of DCG in the entry for BBC Gardeners World Live in both 2023 when our design criteria was to feature the restoration of one of the World’s oldest and intact railway stations on the Derby to Leeds Midland Mainline, Wingfield Station (Silver Merit Award) and in 2024, featuring the restoration and saving of historic fields barns on Bonsall Moor (Platinum Award).”
Peter Milner and Elisabeth Stoppard, Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust
A continued tradition
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. The 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.
The project has also received generous support from additional sponsors, including Bostock Foundation, Derbyshire Historic Gardens Trust, Aqualife, Willshee’s Waste & Recycling, RUF Briquetting Systems, Morgan & Bond, James Hallam Insurance Brokers and Rowlawn, whose valued contributions have helped bring The Artist’s Garden to life. Derby College Group and the garden team extend their sincere thanks for their support of both the students and the project.
For more information about DCG’s Horticulture courses, visit derby-college.ac.uk/horticulture
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