Bishop Burton’s Sam Birks On Track For Gold at APL World Skills UK

Bishop Burton’s Sam Birks On Track For Gold at APL World Skills UK

Sam Birks, a student at studying Level 3 Horticulture, has won a prestigious place in the 2014 World Skills UK Landscape final, to be held at Birmingham NEC on 13-15 November 2014.

Birks, from , secured his place following a gruelling 22 hour garden build in sweltering temperatures at the RHS Flower Show, Tatton. The 12sqm build tested Sam’s construction skills to the limit, requiring him to showcase a multitude of building techniques with a range of materials.

Working in partnership with garden designer Alexandra Froggatt, Sam was scored on every aspect of landscape design, including:

• Plan and mark out, including height measurements.
• Hard landscape features including, small unit paving, block work, paving with flagstones, foundations and footings, water features.
• Timber work, pergolas, fence details, decking.
• Plants and turf, including both plan and freestyle planting methods.

His 12sqm plot featured intricate brickwork and paving, raised planters constructed from timber, and a highly stylised planting design of wild garden flowers, grasses and turf.

On the competition, Sam commented: “The week at Tatton Park was a challenging one, due to the weather. I’m now looking forward to the finals at the NEC in November. I’d like to thank Bishop Burton for entering me into the WorldSkills competition – it was an amazing experience.”

Sam’s design and tenacity was commended by lead judge Jody Lidgard;

“It was a very close competition and workmanship was high in all gardens. I have every admiration for Sam who just kept going despite the heat. He should be enormously proud of his achievements – he represented Bishop Burton College with pride.”

Sue Hosdall, head of foundation studies and horticulture course manager at Bishop Burton College, added:

“The College is incredibly proud of how well Sam has already done in this year’s World Skills competition – just getting to the final is a great achievement.”

“We have every confidence that Sam will give it his all in Birmingham, and we will be there to cheer him on and hopefully celebrate in his success!”

Bishop Burton College offers a wide range of horticulture courses including apprenticeships and diplomas in landscaping, general horticulture and sports surface management. For more information, visit www.bishopburton.ac.uk/courses.



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