A FORMER Reaseheath College student has bagged a silver medal for his landscaping talents at the world’s largest international skills competition.

Matt Beesley, 21, competed in the landscape gardening category at the WorldSkills finals in São Paulo, Brazil.

WorldSkills runs the competition bi-annually for students aged 23 and under to showcase the skills and value of young professionals in industries ranging from construction, engineering technology and transportation to IT, communications and social and personal services.

Matt, from Winsford, and fellow team member Jonathan Gill, from Northern Ireland, achieved Britain’s first ever medal in landscape gardening at the global, Olympics style final last week.

The pair had to prove their skills and stamina in hard landscaping, plant knowledge and management by building a garden from scratch in four days under the gaze of 259,000 spectators.

And the dynamic duo contributed to Team GB’s best ever performance at the competition, bagging a total off 33 medals.

Matt said: “Winning silver in the world finals has been the best experience of my life.

“The whole WorldSkills programme has been awesome. I have learned so much and gained such a lot of confidence.”

Matt completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture at Reaseheath College in Nantwich in 2012.

He now runs his own successful business, Beesley’s Landscapes in Winsford, and employs two apprentices.

He first competed in the British selection rounds for WorldSkills while a Reaseheath student and has continued to train intensively as a potential squad member.

After picking up the silver medal in Brazil, the former Hartford High School pupil praised his former college instructor, Jason Hinks.

He said: “I’d particularly like to thank my hard landscape instructor at Reaseheath, Jason Hinks, and my parents for their support.”

Jason added: “I’m really proud of Matt and how he’s developed as a professional landscaper through WorldSkills.

“This programme is all about benefitting the students through training and helping them to realise their potential.”