Entering into its eighth year, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Young Designer of the Year Competition continues to provide a platform for young horticultural talent at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, taking place from 20 – 24 July.

The competition gives aspiring garden designers aged 28 years and under the chance to kick-start their careers, gain exposure at a prestigious RHS Flower Show, and compete for the coveted title. This year three finalists have been selected to design a Show Garden based on the theme of Health, Happiness and Horticulture.

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is renowned for nurturing new talent, with previous finalists going on to display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, including Hugo Bugg and Sam Ovens, who is designing his first Show Garden for this year’s world-famous flower show in May.

Each designer has begun planning their gardens with expert mentorship, advice and support from established garden designer Paul Hervey-Brookes, using a grant of £12,000 to bring their designs to life.

Caitlin McLaughlin, 25 from Northampton has created ‘Nature & Nurture’, inspired by the hedgerows and wildflower meadows across the UK. The garden represents an urban nature reserve, creating a calm space for people to relax in the city, and plays on its title to combine nature conservation with human health and wellbeing, emphasising the physical and mental benefits of green spaces.

28-year-old Gloucestershire-based designer Robin Dwiar’s garden combines country and city life, by providing an urban oasis ideal for losing yourself in memories and settling the mind. Mixing elements of the clients’ new life in the city with their old one in the country, ‘A Home from Home’ takes inspiration from modern urban square design, while also using imagined elements from the clients’ spiritual home in the countryside to remind them of home and provide an escape to busy city life.

And finally, Lilly Gomm, 26 from London presents ‘A Space to Ruminate’, a garden with a fully exposed front area to create the perception of a terraced house before transforming the view from indoor to outdoor living. Through a wooden pergola and reclaimed scaffolding path, visitors will be drawn to an edible kitchen garden containing seasonal produce, positioned beside a private seating area trailing with hops; a perfect place to sit and relax with a glass of freshly picked mint tea.

Mentor Paul Hervey-Brookes said: “I am thrilled to be mentoring the RHS Young Designer of the Year for a third time; this competition is highly respected in the industry and has produced some amazing new young talent. This year is no exception and I am excited about the gardens that will be produced.”

In addition to designing their own Show Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, the finalists will also work together to build a main feature garden at the RHS London Spring Plant Extravaganza (1 – 2 April 2016). The garden will be designed as an outdoor office, demonstrating the beneficial impact of horticulture on overall health and happiness in the workplace.

Tickets are now available for the 2016 RHS Flower Show Tatton Park on 20 – 24 July.