Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture student Harry Dean enjoyed an amazing industry experience by helping to build the gold medal winning show garden Brickyard at this week’s RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

Brickyard, judged Best Terrace and Slim Space Garden, is inspired by the traditional brick-walled backyards and industrial fabric of great northern cities. It sets out to show how these historic but often awkwardly shaped spaces can be adapted for modern life while still encouraging nature.

Harry works for Acorn Landscape Services, who built the show garden, and is also an award winning vegetable grower, so he was invited to plant up a ‘green’ wall packed with vegetables, fruit and herbs as a backdrop for the garden’s seating area.

Garden designer Conal McGuire of the ecologically driven Conal Studio, said: “Harry brought his own ideas from his experience as an allotment grower and gave the show garden ‘soul’. His planting scheme with edible produce imbued the garden with something special.

“I think Harry has a big future ahead as a garden designer and hopefully his experience of becoming part of our talented show build team will help him on his way. It is the envy of every garden designer to work at such a prestigious RHS show!”

Harry, 19, who plans to progress onto our BSc (Hons) in Landscape Architecture this September, said: “At work we are usually creating gardens for individuals but a show garden is for everyone to enjoy. You are showcasing different ideas for people to take home and also every component of the build has to be perfect for judging.

“This was a great opportunity, as I haven’t been involved with building a show garden before.”

Working in partnership with Feeding Liverpool and Everton in the Community, both charities which tackle social issues, Brickyard will be relocated to inner city Liverpool for community benefit after RHS Flower Show Tatton Park closes on Sunday.

Watch Gardeners World from RHS Flower Show Tatton Park: 7pm Friday 21 July, BBC 2, to see presenter Joe Swift on Brickyard

Conal McGuire, Designer on Brickyard