Business is Blooming for Horticultural Lecturers
Business is blooming for two award winning lecturers at City of Wolverhampton College after their latest success at last year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Show.
Helen Wood and Darren Rudge have never been busier after scooping a gold medal and Best in Show at the annual event, with several exciting projects in the pipeline.
The National Trust, who were the main sponsors of the Naturally Playful show garden, have enlisted the help of the duo to create an interactive woodland walk at Wightwick Manor.
Darren, manager of the college's Cedars Horticultural Centre, said: “We have worked with Wightwick Manor for a number of years and following on from our show garden, which explored how the natural environment could become a playground for children, we have been asked to create a child-friendly area in their grounds.”
Wightwick Manor’s Conservation and Engagement Manager John Wood said: “We are working on ideas around play and exploration using nature as well as taking the poetry of the house out into the garden.”
Darren, Helen and other tutors from the centre are also using the show garden as inspiration to create an outdoor classroom at Wood End Primary School in Wednesfield. Working with Horticultural students from the college they will be clearing undergrowth to make way for log piles, seats made from tree stumps and a small wooded area.
Meanwhile the college has been asked to help with the regeneration of Walsall Arboretum. The Horticultural department has been invited to create a modern green space near to the entrance and are planning a design using grasses and tactile plants that visitors will be able to touch, feel and walk through as well as an interactive sculpture created by engineering students at the college.
For more information on course available at the Cedars ring College Direct on 01902 836000.
