HORTICULTURE students from Pershore College will be competing to win the Young Gardeners of the Year Award 2016 at the Ideal Home Show next year.

The annual competition sees six of the UK’s leading horticultural colleges go head-to-head to create stunning sustainable urban show gardens, built in just one week.

Each college will be given a 5.5m x 4m plot to both plan and design a garden that will demonstrate an understanding of harmony and sustainability.

The finished gardens will be seen by a quarter of a million visitors at the Ideal Home Show in March.

Lucienne Corcos, one of the Level 3 Horticulture students from Pershore College taking part, said: "At first we were feeling a bit nervous about it, but now we’re here it’s exciting.

"It’s our last year together as a group so it’s going to be fun, but hard work as it’s all in addition to our course."

Carol Smith, lecturer in garden design said, "We’re absolutely delighted to be part of this competition, which gives our students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity to both industry experts and the 250,000 visitors to the Ideal Home Show.

“The students are already really excited about the competition and have been drawing up designs and ideas.

"There is going to be a lot of hard work involved, but it will be a fantastic experience for them.

"Last year Pershore won a gold medal so we've got a lot to live up to, but they are a really good group so I'm sure they can do it.”

This year The Prince’s Foundation, which runs the competition, have tasked the Young Gardeners with incorporating elements of an educational garden into the design which should aim to inspire people to reconnect with nature.

The Ideal Home Show London will open its doors for 17 days from 18 March - 3 April 2016 at Olympia London.