Last updated at 23:01, Thursday, 07 July 2011

A Cockermouth garden designer spent the day with her hero, TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin, at the English Gardening School.

Nina Whittam, 26, of Croft Side, who has worked at Moota Garden Centre for five years as a designer and horticulturalist, attended the workshop led by Mr Gavin.

He talked about the inspiration behind his garden designs, how he started and how the blockbuster film Avatar influenced his gold medal-winning garden the Irish Sky Garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Ms Whittam, a former pupil of Keswick School, did a horticultural diploma at Newton Rigg College and a garden design diploma at KLC Chelsea, said: “Diarmuid has always been my hero because he has lots of creativity and good ideas and I really like his personality so I instantly decided to sign up.”

Ms Whittam, who did office work before joining the family-run garden centre by the A66, said: “I used to do a lot of showjumping when I was younger and had to give up.

“I had spent most of my life outdoors so by taking up landscaping it gave me that connection with the outdoors again and inspired me to go even further.

“I have got a lot from the day and it has taught me to take things from everyday life. He recommended taking photos of things and to look at them and incorporate them into my garden design work.”

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 07 July 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk