TRAINEE horticulturists from Middlesbrough are on track for green-fingered glory following success in a national competition.
Apprentice Adam Wood prevailed amid stiff competition when he won the regional round of the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.
The 25-year-old was closely followed by runner-up and fellow apprentice Nathan Thomas in the competition at Houghall College in Durham.
The pair were pitting their skills against competition from other Level 2 and 3 horticulture and arboriculture students from across the region who also attend Houghall.
Adam, from Priestfields, and Nathan, 22, from Thorntree, are both employed by Middlesbrough Environment City and are attending Houghall on a day release basis to achieve their City and Guilds Level 2 qualification this spring.
Adam will now go on to the next round of the competition – sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture – which will be held at the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr near Harrogate.
Middlesbrough Environment City Training and Horticulture Project Co-ordinator David Scriven said: “It’s no mean feat for Adam and Nathan to land first and second place in this competition and they can be rightly proud of their achievement.
“The Young Horticulturist of the Year is a prestigious annual competition and these results will stand them in good stead for their future careers.
“Staff and fellow apprentices from Adam’s workplace will be there to cheer him on when he moves on to the next round, and we wish him every success.”