Garden Design students at Bridgwater & Taunton College’s Cannington Campus recently welcomed guest speaker Alex Owner, co-owner of landscape materials company Perfect Pave, for an inspiring and hands-on session exploring modern hardscaping materials.

Alex, a former student at the Cannington campus, returned to his roots to share invaluable industry insight with our learners. Now running a successful business near Cheddar, along with his business partner who is also a former student, they supply and advise on high-quality hard surface materials for landscaping projects across the region.

Alex delivered a practical talk centred around a wide selection of sample materials, from natural stone to contemporary porcelain paving. He discussed both the technical aspects of installation and the long-term maintenance and performance of the products, giving students a real-world insight into industry trends and considerations.

Emma Butler, Course Leader for Horticulture, commented:

It’s great to see how former students have developed their land-based knowledge and are successful in the world, particularly in this instance, within landscape products. We are thankful to Alex for giving up his time to come and talk to our students about his career journey and the materials currently in demand. It will be interesting to see how these products appear in upcoming Chelsea Flower Show designs, which often signal future garden trends.

The College continues to foster strong links with industry professionals and alumni, helping students gain the knowledge, skills, and inspiration needed to thrive in their chosen fields.

Find out more about our horticulture and garden design courses here: www.btc.ac.uk/horticulture