Richard teaches Garden Design at Craven College, Skipton, and together with his students has put together the Equilibrium Garden, featured on BBC Look North, which was a firm favourite with the show visitors.

Each year the flower show allocates clients to the colleges who take part in the student competition. Richard's clients were Keith and Li Ming, whose hobbies included an interest in the far east and in Tai Chi.

"The completed design reflected this in the construction and planting of a garden with an oriental feel, cool and restful planting, and yet brimming with ideas that could be used in any garden, " said Richard.

"It's been a long hard slog this year; funding has been very difficult with the credit crunch, but we managed to produce a garden of which we are very proud. The public have absolutely loved the contemplative quality of this garden, and the students are over the moon."