Tour de Yorkshire Success!

It was an action packed ' green finger' day here at Askham Bryan College on Tuesday 21st January when students built four competition show gardens – against the clock. Judges at the event were the RHS's Executive Vice President and Director of Horticulture, Jim Gardiner, who is also a former Askham Bryan College student, and the renowned television gardener and broadcaster, David Domoney. In addition, arborists were chainsaw carving sculptures to feature in the gardens and floristry students created floral wall plaques for the fence panels.

 

Level 2 students who won the show garden competition with Principal Liz Philip (right side of photo) and judges by TV gardener David Domoney and Jim Gardiner of the Royal Horticultural Society.

 

Winners were the Level 2 horticulture, floristry and arboriculture students whose design, attention to detail and creativity impressed the judges. The winner of the Northern heat of the Young Horticulturist of the Year was named as Adam Robinson, 23 from Harrogate, who is studying a foundation degree in horticulture.

Around 80 students were involved in the day at the York based college under the theme “Tour de Yorkshire”. In July the world famous Tour de France cycle race starts from the county.

 



Introducing the 'Tour de Yorkshire' - Tuesday 21st January

 

The Horticulture & Landscape Industries department will be hosting it's very first (hoping to become annual) Skills Day. The "Tour de Yorkshire" event includes a visit from the RHS's Director of Horticulture, Jim Gardiner, who is also a former Askham Bryan College student, and the renowned television gardener and broadcaster, David Domoney.

On Tuesday 21 January, students will be busy constructing show gardens at the College under the theme “Tour de Yorkshire” which David and Jim will help judge. This is to link in to the world famous Tour de France cycle race which starts from the county in July. In addition, arboriculture students will be chainsaw carving sculptures to feature in the gardens and floristry students will be creating wall plaques for the fence panels. Also, the northern heat for the prestigious Young Horticulturalist of Year award, run by the Institute of Horticulture, will take place.

The timetable features talks, workshops and practical demonstrations from industry partners including Makita, Marshall’s, the RHS, and the Institute of Horticulture.

Liz Philip, Principal said: “This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students, past and present, to learn first-hand from two of the industry's leading experts, Jim Gardiner from the Royal Horticultural Society, and TV landscaper David Domoney. It will certainly be a day to remember.”

Former horticulture students are urged to get in touch so they can also attend the event. For more details or to attend, please contact Tamsin Hullah on 01904 772308 tamsin.hullah@askham-bryan.ac.uk:

Ex-student Tom Longridge in the Press

Tom Longridge completed a Foundation Degree in Landscape & Garden Management with us from 2009 - 2011 and is now doing extremely well as Head Gardener of Beningbrough Hall in York.
Yesterday you may have seen him speaking on BBC's Look North about the fantastic trees that he looks after as part of his job.

You can read more about Tom in this article from today's York Evening Press
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10921443.National_Trust_trees_are_county_record_holders/