A FLORIST from Marlow has become a silver medalist in her field - and now hopes to put her talents to use at next year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

April Bennett, 22 a former student of the Berkshire College of Agriculture, achieved the shining accolade at The Skills Show 2013 held in November in Birmingham.

The three day event demonstrated 70 different skills from bricklaying to floristry.

To be selected April, had to enter a regional heat where she was one of the top six scorers in her category - advanced floristry.

She then had to take part in various flower arranging competitions before being awarded the silver medal.

But for April, who now works full time in Banbury as a florist at Castle Flowers, it was her part time job she worked while studying A Levels in ancient history, English Lit and Classical civilization which inspired her now successful and blossoming career.

She said: "I was working part time at a florists and learning more and more about flowers and what I could do creatively with them. I took a gap year and thought should I go to university. But I just decided to stick with the floristry and didn’t look back."

She studied Level 2 and Level 3 City of Guilds in qualification Floristry at BCA gaining a merit and distinction. Before BCA she was working at a florist called The Flower Studio while studying at The Henley College.

April learnt on the job at The Flower Studio for four years before deciding to further her skills at college, dividing her time between study and work. She is now hoping to compete next year in The Chelsea Flower Show and eventually to have her own business. She said: "To anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship, I would say if you enjoy what you’re doing, go for it, if there is a career in it, then you never know what could happen"