A GROUP of Somerset horticulture students visited London for the launch of the Ideal Young Gardeners of the Year competition.

Land-based students from six colleges from around the country heard a presentation by ITV gardener David Domoney about the history of the competition and gave the teams their briefs for the gardens to be designed in March.

The students were asked to build a show garden by Princes Foundation for the Built Community and will display it at the Ideal Home Show next year.

The group included Jack Council, from Taunton, and Matthew Paddock, from Langport, who both study at Bridgwater College.

Matthew said: “This is the most important and exciting part of the course where we actually get to turn our ideas into reality and I am really looking forward to planning and then building the garden in March.”