FORMER BMW test driver Olivia Stewart is on track to become the country’s top young garden designer.

Ms Stewart, 27, has been named as one of three finalists in the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Young Designer of the Year competition, at the RHS Show at Tatton Park, in Cheshire, from July 21 to 25.

Ms Stewart, of Shirelake Close, near Folly Bridge, Oxford, the daughter of the Oxford University human sciences don Philip Stewart, landed her place in the final with a design inspired by the landscapes she saw around her when she went camping in the Lake District.

She said: “I’m ecstatic to be in the final. It’s a wonderful opportunity but also very daunting. It comes as a result of years of hard work and I count it as a real achievement in my career.”

She added: “I started working with BMW test driving Minis. But I quickly came to realise that it wasn’t my cup of tea and became interested in gardening , going on to set up my own garden maintenance business.”

After becoming interested in landscape design through her work, she decided to study at the Oxford College of Garden Design, in Pullens Lane, Headington.

She completed a course in residential landscape architecture last year, and now runs her own firm, Olivia Stewart Landscape Design.

She will receive a grant of £12,000 to create her garden. The winning design will be announced in July.

She said: “I tried to include iconic Lake District features like the dry stone walls, the vegetation and to represent features like the fells. It’s essentially symbolic.”

Duncan Heather, principal of Oxford College of Garden Design, said: “We’re extremely proud of Olivia’s achievement.”