Winner hailed RHS Young Designer of the Year
Daniela Coray has been declared winner of the 2011 RHS National Young Designer of the Year competition, which took place at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2011 from 20 – 24 July with her garden A Stitch in Time Saves Nine.
Now in its second year, the RHS National Young Designer of the Year competition is open to designers and students under 28 from across the UK. The three talented finalists were chosen by the RHS Garden Selection Panel comprising Dougal Philip, Andy Sturgeon and Tony Heywood.
Each designer received a grant of £12,000, provided by the RHS, to bring their garden design to life. All three gardens were judged by RHS judges at the Tatton show, and the overall winner Daniela Coray was crowned the RHS National Young Designer of the Year on Wednesday 20 July.
Competing this year were:
Having already gained a degree in Garden Design, Daniela is currently completing a Masters in Art and Environment at University College Falmouth. Originally from Virginia, USA, 26 year-old Daniela established her own design company, Daniela Coray Landscapes, in Cornwall last year. The practice specialises in an environmentally aware approach to garden design.
Daniela's garden
Daniela’s chosen garden, 'A Stitch in Time Saves Nine', examines the issue of green space in urban areas. The garden is purposefully low maintenance and aims to provide the urban population a respite from the concrete jungle.
Alexandra Froggatt - Azalea Landscape Design
25 year-old Cheshire based designer Alexandra is a biology graduate from the University of Sheffield. Although new to exhibiting at the RHS Shows, Alexandra is already marking her mark on the world of landscape design with her own company which she set up almost a year ago, Azalea Landscape Design.
Working with the theme of 
‘Urban Greening’, Alexandra’s design, 'Rider on the storm', focuses on the issue of flood defences and is her personal response to the rising frequency of flooding across the world. This functional design includes a sunken rain garden with flood tolerant planting and living walls and roof which demonstrate how creative gardening can buffer the effects of flooding. The greening of our cityscapes is also explored in the design by teaming rusting reclaimed steel with abundant lush foliage.
Originally from London, twenty-seven year-old designer Owen Morgan set up his own landscape design firm, Mosaic Garden Design & Landscaping, in Rutland in 2004 and has designed and built many gardens in the East Midlands. He has nearly eight years hands-on experience and has learnt his trade with the help of his father-in-law and through extensive reading.
This practical garden, 'The Green Room' is designed to be easily set up in any urban environment. The perfect antidote to city life, the garden will incorporate plants suited to higher pollution levels such lush, green ferns and grasses, Western red cedar and Betula utilis var. jacquemontii and will also feature a sculptural green wall, maximising planting space.