A BLOSSOMING student at Kingston Maurward College will be taking part in a national floristry competition.

Annie Blackman will flourish her skills in front of a 100,000 audience at the national finals of the WorldSkills UK Floristry Competition at the NEC in Birmingham from November 15 to 17.

Annie, who studies Level Three Floristry at the agricultural college near Dorchester, came first in the regional heat held at the college in April, and went on to the Tatton Park semi finals in July. The 22-year-old, from Blandford, said: “I’m excited and a bit nervous.

“I don’t know what I will be doing on the day. It’s three days of competition and I don’t know what they will be like or what flowers I will be getting.

“It’s a bit of a surprise.”

She added: “I never thought I would get this far. My tutor pushed us all to enter and I never thought I would be in the finals.

“It’s a great experience and I’m really happy to be able to take part.

“I’m just feeling a bit nervous now about the next stage in the competition.”

Annie will now compete against other five other floristry students from across the country in the intermediate category.

The competition provides an opportunity to demonstrate creative and technical skills in various tasks based on this year’s theme, Winter Wonderland Wedding.