'When I saw gold, I couldn't believe it'

JANET HUGHES chats with the 26-year-old from Yatton who is already a multi-award-winning orchid grower and has sights set on Chelsea, with his horticulturist dad alongside him

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If you have been to any flower shows in the West Country this year, you will probably have come across the name Dominic Cleverdon. If you haven't, you probably will soon.

The young man from Somerset has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the horticultural world for his stunning displays of orchids.

After walking away with awards at county shows like The Bath and West and earning a string of coveted RHS gold medals, the 26-year-old now has his expert eye firmly planted on making a name for himself at the pinnacle of the plant world, Chelsea.

Nobody could be prouder than dad and business partner Steve, who is delighted to see the little boy who used to help him at his Acer nursery in Taunton finally blooming.

Although the 63-year-old helps his son build the award-winning orchid displays, he says the accolades notched up in the recent past, including 34 best in show awards last year, are down to Dominic's green fingers, artistic eye, attention to detail and determination to be the best at what he does.

"He has been helping me since the age of three but what he has done in the last three years is just incredible," said Steve who lives near Cheddar and is a partner in their CDS Plants. "Lord knows how many bests in shows he's won and now there's three RHS gold medals on the trot. He's just going from strength to strength.

"I'm very proud, but for me the real enjoyment is the time I get to spend with him at the shows. Never for one minute did I ever think I would be getting 79 days a year of such quality time with my 26-year-old son. It is priceless. I am living the dream with him at the minute and it's wonderful."

Father and son are following in the family footsteps and Dominic still passes his late grandfather John's allotment when he visits his grandmother Sylvia in Staplegrove, Taunton.