School of Art student competes in major new Netflix gardening show

The show, which is available to stream on Netflix from Monday 18 May, has been described by many as a gardening equivalent to The Great British Bake-Off. Jim and Ralph will be among the pairs of passionate amateur gardeners creating spectacular, large-scale flower installations for a chance to design their own sculpture at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

Every episode, presented by comedians Vic Reeves and Natasia Demetriou and judged by celebrity florist Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, features a different challenge with a pair facing elimination after each task.

Jim, a second year 3D Design and Craft BA(Hons) student, has paired up with his dad Ralph, who is a groundsman at a private school in Eastbourne and has a City & Guilds qualification in horticulture. Last year, they drove their 1940s army truck to Normandy for the D-Day commemorations after a five-year restoration of the vehicle.

Jim and dad Ralph

Jim said: “Through Dad I grew up with a love of the outdoors but I didn’t love gardening so much. I was always the one who had to clear up after Dad had cut a hedge or whatever. That was a labour of love! This show is right up our street: it combines what we both do.

“We didn't feel competitive to begin with, but as the challenges went on, we did want it more and more. It’s not against the others particularly. You just want to keep on doing your best.

“Nan might be a bit annoyed about the judges! It’s constructive criticism, which is really helpful, and you learn and adjust. But to my Nan, she’ll be like, ‘How dare they say that to my little boys!’”

View The Big Flower Fight trailer and watch on Netflix from Monday 18 May.