Amateur first-timer takes top gong at Gardeners World Live

Elaine Christian showed off her New Zealand-inspired garden in the Birmingham Borders section at the recent Gardeners’ World Live event at the NEC, the Northants Evening Telegraph reports.

There, she was awarded the top prize for her category and given words of encouragement from a celebrity gardener.

“This is the first time I’ve exhibited and I was really pleased just to have been accepted to appear at the show. I was elated to win my category,” the 50-year-old explained.

“It’s been fantastic to be here and I’ve been blown away by the comments I’ve received from visitors. Alan Titchmarsh came along to look at my garden and praised me for what I had done.”

Art teacher Ms Christian began sketching designs for her border in December, inspired by a forthcoming visit she and her partner are making to New Zealand