Trevor Nicholson, who works for the Harewood House estate, was chosen from a shortlist of six to be crowned the Professional Gardener of the Year at the Horticulture Week Landscape and Amenity Awards.

He travelled to London for the presentation at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, where the best of the gardening world was celebrated.

His award is the most prestigious for an individual gardener, but Trevor will not take all the credit for himself.

He said: “These awards are never totally individual. Nobody can do things all by themselves. I have a team of seven gardeners who support me.

“And Harewood House has made me the gardener that I am. I have had a privileged opportunity to be let loose in such a magnificent place.”

Trevor was particularly commended for his work on the Himalayan Garden, which will be officially reopened in the spring.

His award marks a successful month for the Harewood House.

It also won a Sandford Award in recognition of its education and outreach work.

It was voted Yorkshire Visitor Attraction of the Year and now goes forward to the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, organised by VisitBritain, to be held next spring.

The gardens also achieved a Gold Award from Yorkshire in Bloom in the Country Houses, Estates and Parks & Gardens category.