A primary school teacher from Suffolk is preparing for her biggest challenge outside of the classroom having been chosen to create a garden at the 2025 Suffolk Show.
Laura White, 39, started a design course at Suffolk Rural in September 2024.
The keen artist got a flair for the creative when she purchased a former pub in Long Melford with her husband five years ago, that had a car park as an outdoor garden space.
Laura said: “It gave me a blank canvas to create something from nothing and I found I really loved doing it. The stress of life was alleviated when I was outside.”
After getting positive feedback from friends and family in terms of her design, Laura signed up to a course at Suffolk Rural college last year.
During the programme, all students are asked to submit a design that they would like to create at the 2025 Suffolk Show.
All of the designs were then put on the Suffolk New College and Suffolk Rural website for people to vote for their favourite – and staff and students picked Laura’s work.
Laura will now head to Trinity Park in May to start the build where she will try and follow in the footsteps of previous Suffolk Rural students who all struck gold with their designs at the Suffolk Show.
In terms of going back to the classroom Laura continued: “I love being back on the other side of education and having the chance to design and create. I am learning so much each week and having my design chosen was a huge confidence boost.”
Explaining her design Laura said: “The garden is designed around a tropical theme. A decking boardwalk runs through, inviting people to explore the whole space. Dense planting either side works to create a sense of enclosure. Interest will primarily come from varied leaf shape and texture as well as from a water feature which I hope will add to the feeling of tranquility.”
In relation to the prospect of the general public seeing her work Laura said: “Potentially 100,000 people will see the garden – it’s scary – but it’s a massive opportunity and the idea of seeing the design in real life is exciting.
“I am feeling the pressure but know that the build will be a team effort. Other students on the design course will be helping with the planting stages and the T-Level group will be building the hardscaping elements. It is exciting to have the chance to be part of the whole process from design to build and then to the show itself – I am looking forward to it.”
As for the future Laura added: “Looking ahead – I have high aspirations- this time last year I had no idea I would have a design built for the Suffolk Show so as for the future, who knows.” David Smith is a horticulture lecturer at Suffolk Rural. David said: “The college will once again be out in force at the Suffolk Show and the gardens that our students create are always eagerly anticipated. It’s always a proud moment from my point of view to see what our learners come up with and I’m sure that Laura’s design will not disappoint.”