Two world class students from Capel Manor College’s centre in Gunnersbury Park recently won the UK final of the World Skills Intermediate Landscape Gardening competition. Jack Carnell and Johannes Paasch, both BTEC National Certificate in Horticulture full-time students at Capel Manor College’s Gunnersbury Park Centre, were one of four teams of two tasked with completing a pre-determined 7 x 7 metres landscaped garden project from scratch for the competition, which took place during the three-day IOG Saltex show (8 – 10 September).
Mature student Johannes Paasch said, “The competition was very exciting and I really enjoyed it even though it was a lot of pressure rushing to get the garden built in only 22 hours. I’m really looking forward to the next round of heats before the World Skills final in 2011!”
Since completing his course Johannes is now running his own garden maintenance and design business, servicing west London.
17 year old Jack Carnell said of his win, “I am absolutely thrilled and I can’t wait to tell all my new friends when I start my university course. This win and the experience at Capel will be extremely useful for me at university as it will put me ahead of the other students on the course.” Jack has been offered a place at the University is of Falmouth to study for a BA in Garden design.
Capel Manor has won several awards for the quality of its provision including Beacon status for delivering outstanding teaching and learning and CoVE status for Floristry. Students have entered into the UK and World Skills competition previously but never before have they gone through to the finals. Entrants to these competitions need to have a high level of skill and experience in their field, as well as take part in a series of gruelling regional heats that precede the final. Gunnersbury Park tutor Neeth Abey felt that this year students Jack Carnell and Johannes Paasch had the high calibre required to make it in this renowned competition. He said,
“I am delighted for both Jack and Hannes! They have proven my belief in them by winning this prestigious national competition. Both students came to us with little experience in horticulture however they were keen learners and always worked hard. As tutors we always teach and train our students to the highest possible standards.”
The winners from this year’s show may then train with the World Skills squad and earn a competition place at World Skills 2011 in London. World Skills UK is the UK’s premier set of skills competitions for young people and adults. Over 70 quality assured skills competitions run annually to encourage individuals across the UK to excel in their vocational skill area. They are designed by leading industry experts and training providers to help lift standards of training and performance, promoting world class skills and international competitiveness.
The Landscape Gardening competition was organised by BALI (the British Association of Landscape Industries) on behalf of World Skills UK and pulled crowds to the Windsor showground at the Saltex exhibition. Saltex is an annual event that plays host to exhibitors displaying relevant equipment and tools, and materials for both hard and soft landscaping projects, and is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers. Capel Manor were also exhibiting at the show to promote their courses in horticulture and landscaping.
