Derby College Group (DCG) has expressed collective delight after its garden design team won the Platinum Garden Award at the prestigious Gardeners’ World Live, with their creation capturing the rich history of Derbyshire.
Adding to the celebration, lecturer Mike Baldwin was awarded the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional contributions to horticulture, landscaping and education.
The garden was designed by one of the College’s students, Faye Geeson. Faye project managed and worked collaboratively with the other students and the Bonsall Field Barn Restoration Project on the garden concept.
The students, who are all studying Level 3 Horticulture at the College’s Broomfield Hall site, created their show garden working closely with the Derbyshire Historic Building Trust and drawing on their extensive knowledge and experience.
The award-winning garden, titled ‘The Bonsall Field Barn’, masterfully showcased elements of Derbyshire’s heritage, featuring traditional flora, a recreated barn, and stone walls. The design impressed judges with its intricate blend of historical storytelling and horticultural excellence. This accolade highlights the team's innovative approach, dedication, and the high calibre of training provided at DCG led by Mike Baldwin.
"We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition," said Aimee Tulley, one of the team of student garden creators. "Our goal was to honour Derbyshire’s history through our garden, and this award is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our entire team. We are grateful for the support and mentorship we have received from Mike and the college community. Creating the garden really stretched us, as we had to learn many diverse skills including building, landscaping, stone walling and turfing – but everyone in the team threw themselves into it and worked relentlessly”.
The imaginative garden features a restored field barn within a setting inspired by the Peak District village of Bonsall. This includes dry stone walling, typical of the area, a limestone path representing the Limestone Way, planted with predominantly UK natives around a dew pond, and a representation of a covered, disused lead mine shaft featuring T'Owd Man of Bonsall. Planting is in keeping with the area, including a wildflower meadow and ornamentals thriving on limestone sites.
Horticultural Lecturer Mike Baldwin said of the achievement “I am incredibly proud of the team and to win the highest category at the show is a bonus. We set out to recreate a part of Derbyshire’s rural history, and the team have excelled at this and have made a beautiful garden that has really captured the essence of the Derbyshire Countryside.”
Mike continued “It has been amazing how resilient the team have been, working so hard and making it such a pleasure to work with them. A top team who deserves the top award”
After the event, the barn will be dismantled and be brought back to life as it will be used to build a new barn in Derbyshire.
In addition to the team's triumph, Mike Baldwin, a highly respected member at Derby College Group, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates Mike's outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture, his dedication to education, and his significant impact on the horticulture community over a distinguished career spanning 36 years.
"I am deeply honoured to receive this award," said Mike Baldwin. "It has been a joy to be part of Derby College Group and to contribute to the growth and success of our students. This recognition is a reflection of the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence that defines our institution and all the hard work that the students over the years have put in."
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