Taking plunge pays off for garden designer

The 31-year-old, from Doncaster, who gave up working as a visual manager for Marks & Spencer to set up his own business, gained the judges' approval with his Shower Time garden, featuring a plunge pool and shower for the use of guests who have just had spa treatment at a boutique hotel.

"I was rather overwhelmed when I heard I had not only got a gold but won the back to back garden design section at my first attempt. I thought about winning when I heard I had been accepted to do a show garden but I never really thought it would happen, it was just a day dream."

Mr Hardcastle started New Growth Garden Design about five years ago with "2,000, a little white van and a spade." Now his business is turning over around 180,000 a year and he employs three people full-time and contractors when needed.

"My ambition now is to get to Chelsea Flower Show," he said.

Leeds Metropolitan University criminology student Georgina Jeffs, 19, pictured in the shower, whose father is one of Mr Hardcastle's clients, shows the refreshing garden works a treat. "I should thank Abacus from Harrogate who supplied the pool and shower for me," he added.

Another designer making her show debut is Elizabeth Daley from Leeds who won a silver gilt award for her garden Embracing Tranquillity for leading cancer centre Christie in Manchester.

She was asked to create the garden for the charity after attending a lunch last year and visited Mount Grace Priory in Yorkshire for inspiration helping to make "a private refuge from a busy world".

North Yorkshire furniture designer turned garden designer William Quarmby, 27, also picked up a silver gilt for his West Pennine Moors garden, only being beaten to the title of RHS Young Garden Designer of the Year by Hugo Bugg from Cornwall who also won the Best in Show garden for his design inspired by the Albert Dock in Liverpool.

The Tatton Park Show in Cheshire, including the Eurofleurs Competition for Europe's most talented young florists, runs until Sunday.