Call for garden designers

Bridge College and The Manchester College are hosting an exciting competition to give budding landscape designers the chance to see their designs exhibited at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show at Tatton Park in July 2012. Bridge, a specialist college for young people with learning difficulties, disabilities and complex needs, is relocating in September next year to a new site in Openshaw shared with The Manchester College.

Members of the general public are invited to submit a design for the project, which will be used to celebrate the two colleges partnership in the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, education facility for students with highly specialist needs. The new Bridge College is due to open in September 2012 and will be a centre of excellence for learning support. A substantial area of the site will be dedicated to promoting horticulture in an urban setting.

Building on Bridge College's Silver Gilt award at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton in 2010, the winning design will be selected by a judging panel of students and staff from both colleges, and will be created on site by a team of Manchester College and Bridge College students. The judges are looking for vibrant, artistic and creative designs that will reflect the two institutions coming together to give young people with complex needs access to some of the best, most innovative services in the UK.

The competition is a fantastic opportunity for landscape design students or amateurs to showcase their skills. No formal qualifications or professional experience are required, but competitors will need to have a good knowledge of garden design and be able to display a realistic understanding of the creation and costing of the garden. Designs should take account of the needs of disabled young people.

David Marriott, Chief Executive of the Together Trust, said; "By sharing their knowledge and expertise, Bridge College and The Manchester College have created an exceptional unique and exciting education project, so we're looking for designs that will reflect and celebrate this groundbreaking partnership. I'd encourage everyone with an interest in gardening or design to get involved."

Carl Miller, from The Manchester College, said; "We want to give garden designers an opportunity they might not otherwise have, and the RHS show is a fantastic opportunity to show off their skills. Last year, a student from The Manchester College designed our garden and those from the Horticulture and Construction teams built it, and they managed to win a silver medal in the process."

Entrants have until 16th December 2011 to submit their designs. For more information on entering the competition, email tatton@themanchestercollege.ac.uk