GREEN-FINGERED Graham Hardman beat off the competition to land first place in the BBC Gardener's World Student Design Competition.

Graham, a student at Reaseheath College in Nantwich had spent 30 years in the computer industry before deciding to branch out into a garden design.

He chose to study at Reaseheath and has just completed the High National Diploma in Garden Design, aimed at professional training.

The contest was held at the NEC in Birmingham last month and was open to anyone studying garden design with 66 entrants from 16 colleges nationwide.

Graham and two other contestants were given £3,500 to build their design into a show garden at the BBC Gardener's World Live Show.

Judges included Gay Search, well known for her appearances and features for the TV show, and Adam Pascoe.

Graham was presented with a crystal vase and £1,000 prize money and a feature on the competition will appear in the September issue of Gardener's World magazine.

The college is also hoping for green-fingered success next week at a gardening show in Tatton Park.

Reaseheath graduate Anne Beswick designed the college garden, Wonderful Life, and students from various courses have been involved in working on it.

The college recently won a gold medal at the Cheshire County Show and is hoping for a hat-trick of success with a win at the Royal Horticultural Show which runs from July 22 to 26 at Tatton Park.

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