Former landscape gardener Matt Stowe has earned national acclaim for his £1.1 million plan to transform a housing estate into a “green oasis”.
Wor
k will start later this year on the Parc Peulwys estate in Llysfaen, above Old Colwyn, to implement the blueprint drawn up by Matt.
A dramatic new entrance to the estate will be created while there will also be landscape improvements, traffic management, a nature trail and play areas.
The scheme came about because of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between housing association Cartrefi Conwy and Deeside College. The aim of KTPs is to enable academics going on placement to work on important development projects
Former Deeside College horticulture student Matt was seconded to Cartrefi Conwy for two years to work on the scheme – and resulted in him landing his dream job.
Matt was one of only seven per cent of associates across the UK to be given an outstanding grade, the highest awarded by the Government-funded Technology Strategy Board which manages Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
After the partnership ended, Matt, who lives in Mold, was taken on by the housing association as their Environmental Development Officer.
As a result he will now oversee the plan being put into action on Parc Peulwys and the introduction of similar schemes on other estates.
Matt first studied horticulture and landscaping 20 years ago and went on to work as a landscape gardener and dry stone waller.
He returned to education to study for a HNC in Landscape Construction and Garden Design at the Welsh College of Horticulture, in Northop, which has since merged with Deeside College.
Next on the agenda for Matt is a Master of Horticulture degree with the Royal Horticultural Society.
He said: “The Knowledge Transfer Partnership has gone fantastically well. We’ve worked closely with the tenants to form a design brief which will help us improve the Parc Peulwys estate. I am thrilled I have been given the opportunity of implementing the plan. It’s a dream come true for me.”
Deeside College lecturer Robert Mackey said: “I am delighted that Matt’s work has been recognised with an excellence award. I like to see rewards go where they deserve to go – Matt put his heart and soul into the project.”
