SUCCESS is blooming at an agricultural college after a tutor scooped first place in a horticultural competition.

Amy Trayler, who is a tutor of horticulture at Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester, won the first round of the Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition.

She now faces the regional finals and if she is successful again, will go on to the national grand final in May.

Amy, pictured with students Georgina Allen and Ben Short, said: “The questions for the heats covered such a wide variety of horticultural topics, and tested all the contestants’ knowledge to the extreme, so I was incredibly shocked to find that I had come out top but I am thrilled to have this opportunity and am excited about the regional finals.”

Prizes valued at more than £10,000 are on offer, including the coveted £2,000 Percy Thrower Travel Bursary prize for the winner, provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society which also sponsors the Grand Final.

The Bursary funds a study trip anywhere in the world. The competition is open to any horticulturist who is below the age of 30 on 31 July 2014 including professional horticulturists and anyone studying for a horticultural qualification.

National winner 2013, Jez Stamp, said: “It was an excellent competition that highlights all the exciting opportunities that horticulture has to offer as a career.

“Plants are my passion. I have thrown myself in 100 per cent and am proud to have won this competition.

“My travel bursary will give me a chance to continue my studies of woody plants and I will be looking at Western China and Taiwan as possible locations.”

For more information about horticultural courses call 01305 215215 or go to kmc.ac.uk