Roy Kemp of Kirriemuir was filmed last summer whilst studying for his HNC in garden design at the Scottish Agricultural College.

He was one of 12 students tasked to develop a plot at the Craibstone campus in Aberdeen, and was delighted when the BBC's very own Jim McColl popped along with a film crew.

Roy (51) completed his HNC against all the odds last year and, having battled bowel cancer, is now working towards gaining an HND in garden design at the SAC.

After working in the oil industry and spending 20 years as an estate agent, he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in December 2006.

He suffered a pulmonary embolism and ended up in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary whilst studying for his HNC at the Scottish Agricultural College's Edinburgh campus, and his ill health forced him to move back to Kirriemuir to resume his studies at Craibstone.

He was so determined to catch up on lost time that he camped out at the Craibstone campus to ensure he completed his HNC.

Bad luck

His run of bad luck was to continue and shortly after beginning his HND course last September, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer; he is now recovering from surgery which took place at the beginning of the year.

However, he has not lost sight of his vision of embarking on a career in garden design and his dream of completing a degree - but time is of the essence.

He is looking forward to the screening of the Beechgrove Garden on May 21 when viewers will be astounded at his creation - which cost a remarkable £3.30.

In designing the garden he tried to source materials and plants either in the locale of Craibstone Estate or from Kirriemuir to ensure the garden blended with the location and to reduce costs.

His design used as much recycled material as possible, both in the hard landscaping and plant material.

Rabbit damage resulted in Roy planting the rear garden area in a more 'manicured' way, creating a kind of "Ying & Yang" look to the garden with the front growing 'wild' and the back being controlled and having more cultivated planting.

Hedgehog house

Roy explained the nature of the area was encouraged onto the plot with the creation of a hedgehog house and a 'Bug Hotel' was constructed featuring a pitched roof with chimney and stack.

A large tree trunk planter was discovered and positioned on a gently curving retaining wall which looked like a little 'bow wave' with the tree trunk as the ship.

Blue Lobelia was planted at the base to mimic water.

Roy made full use of free seed packets from gardening magazines to keep the costs down and as well as constructing his own garden, he also helped out his fellow students .

He designed, sourced materials and built a 'house' backdrop for one plot, taught a fellow student how to construct a pond; he also designed, built and planted up a common seating area used by the designers as a place to meet and talk.

He designed/built a brazier to burn off all unwanted flammable material to keep the plots tidy, sourced large refuse bins and an old water tank, all to be used to collect rainwater for watering the plots.

He also built a perimeter fence with three others and a drystone dyke.

Among the wildlife attracted to Roy's plot were a rodent which made a home under one of the large fences, pond skaters on the pond surface and diving beetles, two species of water snail, water mites, water ticks and water lice in the pond.

Three different species of butterflies, three different species of bees, hoverflies have been sighted on the plot.

He explained: "As part of the course we had to design our own garden which was four metres by six metres and which was originally a field.

"Most of my plants were either gathered from donations, from gardening jobs or sown seeds obtained free from magazines. The only things purchased were a pack of Meadow Wild Flowers and a pack of Wild Flowers from the local supermarket Lidls, costing a total of £3.30."

Taking up challenge

Looking further ahead Roy is also taking up the challenge, along with three fellow students, in designing a show garden at the Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston which runs for three days at the end of May.

Roy's team is one of three from the SAC who will compete against other colleges.

For a chance to see the fruits of Roy's labour, switch on to the Beechgrove Garden on BBC1 Scotland on Wednesday, May 21 at 7.30 p.m.