NorthTec landscape student Katie Hilford has been selected as one of five competitors from around New Zealand in the newly-established Emerging Designer's category at the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch in March of next year.

Katie has designed a 5x5 metre courtyard using sustainable practices for a family of four for the prestigious show. An adobe pizza oven, fruit and vegetable garden and worm farm compost bin are all part of the design. Katie will build a life-sized model of her garden for display at the Ellerslie Show.

Her interest in Ellerslie was prompted by a visit to her class by Ellerslie exhibition manager Kate Hillier - a visit arranged by NorthTec landscape tutor Angela Marinkovic. "Kate showed us pictures from the show and explained the 'facelift' the show was getting with new categories like 'emerging designers' being included. This got me interested and planted the seed which led to me entering the 'student designer of the year' competition. This category is for landscape and horticultural students who are currently enrolled in a tertiary course."

Katie received the design brief in early August and used all of her spare time to complete her design before the deadline of 2 October. "I spent weeks sketching concepts but nothing felt right. It wasn't until I spent a day at home alone where I could sit and think with a clear head, and without distractions, that I came up with the labyrinth idea that my design evolved from - it was inspired by components of the house that my partner and I had built for ourselves."

Katie is selling calendars to help raise money to pay for materials and supplies and the travel costs involved in getting to Christchurch for the event. "The calendar includes monthly gardening tips that I have created throughout the year and sent out in monthly newsletters to Green Gables customers. It will also have pictures of landscaping work to give people ideas for their own gardens." The calendar is available from GreenGables Landscape on (09) 459 1108 or free phone 0800 259 490.

"I'm very thankful that Bernard and my work colleagues at GreenGables Landscape are helping me out and that I have the support of my friends and family. A huge thank you to Northland Plants of Maungatapere for sponsoring me by supplying plants, and to Angela (Katie's tutor) for making and supplying adobe bricks. Alchymia wood fired ovens are also willing to lend me a pizza oven for the design which is fabulous and Waimea Nurseries have agreed to lend me some fruit trees - which is an enormous help! I couldn't do it without them."

Katie is still looking for a few crucial elements and would welcome any additional sponsorship. "I'm still searching high and low for financial support and sponsors. In particular I need help with some of the main components of my design." Katie is looking for a stainless steel fabricator to help her construct a slide, a range of plants for the design and a lighting supplier who might be able to provide solar-powered lights.

NorthTec's landscape course is part-time and is offered at the NorthTec's Kamo Rd campus in Whangarei, the Kerikeri campus and in Wellsford. Katie completed the course in two years and was able to combine studying with her maintenance job at GreenGables Landscape in Whangarei. This meant that she was able to work in the field while studying, something she recommends to anyone considering the course.

Katie's goal is to continue along a creative path, increasing her use of the drawing and designing side of her landscape training. She hopes to be designing by the end of next year. "NorthTec's landscape course is great for anyone wanting to get into landscape design."