A STUDENT was awarded a gold medal at the recent RHS Malvern Spring Festival.

Sebastian Conrad, who is studying for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Horticulture at Pershore College, was awarded the highest accolade for his contemporary show garden called “What if” in support of The Rees Foundation, a county charity that provides support to care leavers.

The garden was created in collaboration with artist Kate Rees from Upton-upon-Severn and themed around the creativity in an artist’s mind.

The garden featured three large colourful hand-painted steel structures which were designed to reflect an artist’s developing ideas.

The 27-year-old from Wyre Piddle, said: “Getting a gold medal has been a fantastic experience.

“The best thing about putting your work out there is to receive feedback from experts, designers and professionals within the industry. There is nothing better than constructive criticism that enables you to push yourself further in the future.

“A mutual friend suggested a collaboration with Kate and we both liked the idea of it because we both like pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones as it leads to breaking a few boundaries. As I come from an art background, the narrative of using nature and art led to the concept of an artist’s studio, and the moment of creation and its constant development.

"Like a garden it is very much about the organic process of change.”

Mike Roberts, lecturer in horticulture and garden design at Pershore College, added: “Sebastian has always been extremely talented and shown great promise, flair and creativity during his time here at Pershore. We are extremely proud of this tremendous achievement.”

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