Makita UK is a sponsor of Essex-based Writtle College in support of their entry in the Young Gardeners of the Year competition. This event is held annually at the Ideal Home Show, 20 March – 6 April, Olympia Kensington, London.


Makita power tools help Writtle College students

One of several sponsors, Makita has provided a full package of power tools suitable for hard landscaping which includes circular saws, belt sanders, routers and planers, mitre saws and jigsaws as well as a dust extraction system.

Writtle College is one of six colleges to compete – Chichester College, Capel Manor, Askham Bryan College, Pershore College and Shuttleworth College – who will each build a garden in a 5.5m x 4m plot at the Show. The contest, organised by TV gardener David Domoney in association with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, is run to encourage the best of young ‘green’ talent among leading horticultural colleges.

Ben Wincott is a Further Education lecturer in Horticulture at Writtle College. He said, “Contestants will compete head-to-head to create a show-stopping, sustainable garden that will be visited by thousands at this very high profile show. We are fortunate to have a huge facility here at Writtle which is allowing us to build elements of the garden in advance and then put it together at Olympia like a pre-fabricated construction horticultural kit where we will have just five days for the build-up.”

The show opens to the public on Friday 20 March and judging will take place on the same day. The judging panel includes horticulture industry leaders, home interest magazine editors and acclaimed garden designers. Entrants will compete to win gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze awards. The overall winner will receive the Best in Show award and visitors will be able to vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Award.