A STUDENT from Pershore College has been presented with an award and won a six-week work experience stint in the Netherlands.

Alex Muller has scooped Wyevale Nurseries’ Peter Williamson Travel Award.

Alex, aged 25, who is a level three horticulture student, earned the accolade after wowing judges with a written submission and an interview.

The award was started in memory of Wyevale Nurseries former owner and chairman, Peter Williamson, who died in 2011.

It is presented annually to a student at Pershore College, which Mr Williamson attended in the 1960s.

The award subsidises and organises for the successful applicant to do a period of work during the summer holidays, as Mr Williamson did more than 40 years ago.

Steve Ashworth, director at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, explained: "We would like to congratulate Alex on winning.

"The award was designed to encourage a student towards a career in nursery stock production by assisting with a practical placement at a nursery in the Netherlands.

"Alex won the award by displaying an inquisitive and adventurous spirit, well-grounded with current, active participation in practical horticulture."

Alex will be working for six weeks during the summer at Combinatie Mauritz, a tree producer in the Netherlands.

He was also presented with £500 from Wyevale Nurseries to help pay for his travel costs.

Alex said: "I am over the moon to have won this award and can’t wait to get stuck in at Combinatie Mauritz.

"It’s such a great opportunity for me. I would like to say a huge thank you to Wyevale Nurseries."

The award was first presented to Ben Gregory, who was a second-year horticulture degree student at Pershore, in 2012.

He worked at Poppelaars Nurseries in the Netherlands in 2012.

Mr Gregory is now the product development coordinator at Wyevale Nurseries.