Horticultural students and apprentices from across the nation have taken part in three knockout heats over the past few months, both run by the Association of Professional Landscapers. The most recent taking place at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park this week.
The public interest in the competition this year was at an all-time high, with many members of the public requesting coverage on the BBC to enable them to see how the competitors had got on. There were comparisons to it being a landscaping version the BBC’s Great British Bake Off.
The scores from each heat were all of a high standard and the competitors had shown a lot of focus, but the 6 highest scoring students, progressing to the NEC for the national final, are:
- Will Burberry, Gardenscapes
- Mark Chapelhow, Wildroof Landscapes
- Anthony Doran, The Landscape Co.
- Christopher Shore, Reaseheath College
- Noel Taggart Greenmount Campus, CAFRE
- Aaron Quin, Greenmount Campus, CAFRE
Alongside the success of the competitors, APL WorldSkills UK picked up the award for Best Show Feature at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
Judge Simon Abbot said during the semi-finals “At the beginning we told them to go by their own plan, and it is interesting to see the way in which they have gone about this. A mixture of both industry and colleges have got it right to how Jody and the team built theirs. So far they’re not rushing it, but they’re on time”.