A new gardener has scored a top medal in a prestigious flower show.

Talented Marsden woman Lindsay Haycock beat other competitors to win a bronze medal for her charity garden at the prestigious RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, despite not yet having carried out her first professional job.

Lindsay, 45, who currently owns and works at Radish health foods on Peel Street but has recently set up Ginkgo Garden Design, bowled over judges with her beautiful life-size design called ‘Bring Me Sunshine’.

She created it as a lasting memorial to her friend and local photographer Chris Turner and his widow Sharon and to raise money for Kirkwood Hospice, who helped care for him.

Built over 12 days with the help of her friend and former builder, Jamie Mason, they installed a large and brightly coloured stone-shaped sunflower section, a water fountain, seating area and a soothing herbal lawn, which was then put on public show from July 22 to 26.

She said: “I’m thrilled to get the award.

“I was one of 12 designers from around the UK and we were visited by judges before the show opened to the public– it was very intensive.

“However, people didn’t treat it as a competition as such– the other, more experienced gardeners gave me some good advice and help, which was lovely– there was good camaraderie.”

At the show, Lindsay’s garden was visited by BBC gardening presenters James Wong, Joe Swift and the renowned Gardeners’ World front man, Monty Don.

Lindsay Haycock of Marsden's Ginkgo Design with Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don

Her shop is expected to be sold on Friday to a similar trader to allow her to concentrate on her new business.

She said: “I only graduated in June with a garden designer diploma through distance learning and haven’t taken any bookings yet but I hope that this will give me a good spring board because the festival is so prestigious.

“I learnt a lot from fellow gardeners and the show’s designers, who came to help me and am considering maybe exhibiting at Harrogate Flower Show next year.

“One of the hardest things was transporting all the materials and plants to the event as we had a low budget due to doing it for charity but we had a wonderful time.

“The feedback from the public was great– people said they could relate to it.”

Lindsay plans to host a plant sale in the near future to sell off some of the plants used in her show.

She said: “I will sell some of them off for the hospice and then I’ll transfer the garden to Sharon’s home, where it can be turned into a lasting memorial.”

To make a donation to the Chris Turner fund, go to chris-turner.muchloved.com

To contact Lindsay, email lindsay@ginkgogardendesign.co.uk