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Telford & Wrekin Council will be taking the Shropshire countryside to Birmingham next month when a member of staff makes their debut at a prestigious gardening show. Environmental Maintenance officer Keith Slater is designing a border garden for next month's BBC Gardeners' World Live at Birmingham National Exhibition Centre. Keith, who is currently studying for a Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Horticulture, is one of a number of students from the City of Wolverhampton College who will be exhibiting in the Birmingham Borders section of the celebrated show from 10 to 14 June.
 
His Butterfly Garden promises to bring a little piece of the British countryside to Birmingham and will be created with help and support from council contractors Telford and Wrekin Services, Dingle Nursery, Larry Jones, who has provided a rustic bench for the garden, Linda Laxton, of British Wild Flower Plants, and garden designer Teresa Rham.
 
Keith said: "I was delighted to be asked to exhibit at the BBC Gardeners' World live. This is my second year of studying garden design and horticulture and to be able to turn what I have learnt into a garden at such an event is very exciting.
 
"The garden I will be creating is reminiscent of a spring meadow and will be edged with natural hedging and contains a wealth of wildflowers and buddleia to attract butterflies."
 
The City of Wolverhampton College entered three borders at last year's show and competed against other groups and organisations. This year, as well as designing a show garden, the college has been given all of the borders, so Keith's garden will be competing solely against other students. Other borders include a beach design, and two based on the recession.
 
In 2007, Chris Jones, of the Environmental Maintenance team, and urban designer Michael Vout, won a Silver Flora Medal for their Thomas Telford inspired show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.