Matt Jones wins Garden Design Competition

Now in its 6^th year the collaboration between Provender Nurseries and Capel Manor College continues to be a success for all involved. 

Provender Nurseries are pleased to announce Matt Jones of London Plantsman as the winner of the Garden Design Competition at the Enfield Campus.

Differing from previous years’ competitions a new garden from the Capel Manor show gardens (The National Gardening Centre) was selected for the planting redesign, The Family Garden.

Matt’s redesign of the Family Garden called ‘Summer Entertaining’ was selected as the winning entry due to the contemporary feel to the planting with all year interest but particularly in the late summer months when the clients would be entertaining.  These criteria were set out in the brief. 

The cool planting palette was inspired by the Hydrangea Valley at Trebah in Cornwall.  The planting is soft and focuses attention inwards in the garden to cocoon and envelope the clients when entertaining.

A selection of long flowering Hydrangea macrophylla ‘For Ever and Ever Pink’ provided the main planting base for the rest of the plant selection with cool whites and subtle pinks to set off the choices of Ferns and existing Betula uti. var Jacquemontii.  An interesting selection of bulbs was chosen to extend the period of interest in the garden. 

Judging took place in June with over 15 students of Garden Design at Capel Manor College, Enfield Campus, presenting their designs to Liz Hughes of Provender Nurseries and Sophie Guinness of Capel Manor College.  Each student talked through their designs justifying plant choices and highlighting plants or areas of interest. 

Matt presented his design and plant choices well, as he would do to a client.  Matt has an HND in Fashion & Textiles and a background in luxury fashion retail which will hold him in good stead now that he has graduated from the Level 3 Plants & Planting design course.  Matt plans to become a full time garden designer and is currently working full time designing planting schemes before returning to Capel Manor to complete Level 3 Hard Landscaping this September.

Matt has been presented with a cheque for £250.00 for his achievement.  Judging at Regents Park campus will take place in November.

• Provender Nurseries is a trade only supplier of plants and related products to landscape professionals.  More information can be found at www.provendernurseries.co.uk
• Capel Manor College offer full and part time courses in Horticulture and Garden Design.  More information can be found at www.capel.ac.uk
• Matt Jones can be found on Instagram on londonplantsman