FROM the rolling hills of Suffolk to tree lined streets of Watford, one local woman has realised a lifetime's love of horticulture by scooping a top award.

Elizabeth Gower, of Cassiobury Drive, Watford, was recently awarded the 2004 centenary prize for achieving the highest overall marks nationally in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) general certificate in horticulture exam.

She said she was delighted at winning the prize. "I've had a lifelong interest in horticulture since growing up in rural Suffolk. My father had a very good garden so when I was a child I grew up watching it all go on," she said.

Mrs Gower, a former biology lecturer at West Herts College, took over teaching the General Certificate course at the college last year. The course is science based and fits both leisure and vocational study.

She said: "I had a long career as a biology teacher so horticulture was a sideways move really. It was the first time I had taught it academically but I always had an interest in it.

"I enjoyed researching and planning the lessons and decided to enter the exam alongside my pupils. Winning the prize was particularly pleasing as 2004 was the bicentenary of the RHS."

For full story see Friday's Watford Observer.