Capel Manor College horticultural student Marcus Papa is the 2013 winner of Mr Fothergill's Award for the student who has demonstrated  the highest skills in plant care. 

He was recently presented with a commemorative shield and a bursary of £500 by the company’s managing director John Fothergill.  The citation says Marcus “has demonstrated his passion for plants and their care in both practical and written assignments.  He produced an outstanding portfolio demonstrating his love of plants.  He is a most deserving student for this award”.

Marcus, from east London, started at Capel Manor College in 2011 on a Level 2 Extended Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture course.  On completion, he realised he had caught the 'Capel bug' and signed on to the City and Guilds L2 Certificate in Gardening course, which he completed in July 2013; it was during the closing part of this course he was chosen for Mr Fothergill's award.  Marcus now hopes to enrol onto the Level 3 course next term, to continue on his journey in horticulture.

On receiving the award, Marcus said he was delighted and flattered to receive such recognition for his work, and that he was looking forward to making horticulture his career.  "The bursary will certainly be very useful as I continue my studies", he commented.

Capel Manor is the largest land-based college in Greater London, offering a range of nationally accredited courses and apprenticeships and with five centres across Greater London; they are within reach of anyone with a passion for the great outdoors.  Subjects offered include: gardening, landscape construction, environmental studies, garden design, arboriculture and floristry.  For more details of courses at Capel Manor  College offers, log on at www.capel.ac.uk