A talented Reaseheath College landscape gardener proved he is among the world’s best by taking silver at the WorldSkills finals in Brazil.
Matt Beesley and fellow team member Jonathan Gill achieved Britain’s first ever medal in landscape gardening at the global Olympics-style final in Sao Paulo.
The pair had to prove their skills and stamina in hard landscaping, plant knowledge and management by building a garden from scratch in four days under the gaze of 259,000 spectators.
WorldSkills runs the competition bi-annually for students aged 23 and under to showcase the skills of young professionals in a range of industries.
The GB team recorded its best ever performance, with 33 medals.
Matt, 21, completed his diploma in horticulture at Reaseheath in Nantwich in 2012.
He now runs his own successful business, Beesley’s Landscapes, in Winsford and employs two apprentices.
He first competed in the British selection rounds for WorldSkills while a Reaseheath student and has continued to train intensively as a potential squad member.
Matt said: “Winning silver has been the best experience of my life. The whole WorldSkills programme has been awesome.
“I have learned so much and gained such a lot of confidence.
“I’d particularly like to thank my hard landscape instructor at Reaseheath, Jason Hinks, and my parents for their support.”
Jason said: “I’m really proud of Matt and how he’s developed as a professional landscaper through WorldSkills.
“This programme is all about benefiting the students through training and helping them to realise their potential.”
Another former Reaseheath horticulture student is a potential member of the GB squad for WorldSkills 2017, to be held in Abu Dhabi.
Christopher Shore, about to start a foundation degree in garden and landscape design, has
qualified for this year’s WorldSkills UK national finals.
The competition is run by the Association of Professional Landscapers for WorldSkills UK.
(Pic: Matt Beesley (right) and Jonathan Gill celebrate at the WorldSkills finals in Sao Paulo)
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