The Association of Professional Landscapers has announced that Robert Wylie, from CAFRE, has been named the ‘Best in the UK’ in Landscape Gardening after winning Gold at the WorldSkills UK National Competitions at this year’s The Skills Show.  

Robert beat students from Reaseheath College, Bishop Burton College and CAFRE to win the Gold Medal.  Jonathan Buchanan got Silver whilst Ronan McLarnon and Dean Thomson got joint Bronze.

The garden, designed by Alexandra Froggatt tested the competitors in 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. This includes both plan and freestyle planting methods.

Judges for the Landscape Gardening competition include garden designer Jody Lidgard, who has run his own landscaping firm for over 18 years, award winning APL member Rod Winrow from Garden House Design and 2011 WorldSkillsUK medal winner Simon Abbott.

Ross Maloney, Chief Executive, Find a Future, said: “The Skills Show is an amazing showcase for the nation’s vast variety of skills. Just as we celebrate our athletes, so we champion our skills and inspire young people to make their own mark on industry.  Congratulations to all those who took part in the WorldSkills UK Competitions. 

“It is through competition activity, The Skills Show and The Skills Show Experience that Find a Future can provide young people and their parents with the chance to get excited about the world of work and make informed choices about their future.”

The APL would like to thank sponsors Greenwood Nursery, Greenline Plants, Makita UK, Jewson, Marshalls and Suttons Seeds for their support for the show.

Over 75,000 people attended The Skills Show and watched 588 apprentices and learners battle it out in 64 skills competitions, ranging from Forensic Science to Floristry, with the aim of being named ‘UK Champion’ in their chosen skill.  Visitors to The Skills Show were also able to ‘Have a Go’ at different skills and meet with employers and National Careers Service advisors to receive the latest information on apprenticeships and other training opportunities.

Outstanding competitors from this year’s WorldSkills UK Competitions may be invited to join the shortlist for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.  WorldSkills is the world’s largest skills competition and Squad UK is currently in training for WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 which takes place from 11 to 16 August, 2015.

To register your interest for the next cycle of WorldSkills UK Competitions visit www.worldskillsuk.org