GEORGE Kerr was 16 when he left Penilee Secondary School in Glasgow. But even then he had only one ambition - to design and develop small gardens.

Now the 25-year-old, a qualified horticulturist with his own business, has taken a major step forward. He will be among the youngest individuals to have an entry at this year's National Gardening Show.

As Cosmos Garden Design of Ibrox, his Petit Jardin section entry, Journey of Life, uses plants and sculpture, including a stone serpent, to portray childhood, youth, maturity and old age.

The exhibit - set up in collaboration with Argentinian artist Ivel Muller - is suitable for a courtyard and will feature different varieties of hostas and grasses.

''It's eight metres in diameter,'' said Kerr, who rents a section of his father's garage yard in Finnieston as his base. ''The design incorporates sandstone columns, an archway, and water features. I have set out to combine beauty with balance. It's something which is meant to be enjoyed.''

Kerr's journey to the show has required much determined hard work along the way. His first job was working for Glasgow Parks Department and during that time he also studied for a diploma in horticulture. Just over 12 months ago he was at last able to set up his own business.

''From the start I wanted to provide customers with everything from regular garden maintenance through to landscaping and design. I hadn't expected it to be easy - and that was just as well,'' he said.

''To earn a living, I had to take on whatever came along, from casual digging to being asked to cut someone's grass. But gradually I built up a customer base. I don't regret any of it - that was all part of my personal learning curve.''

His view of his Petit Jardin entry is that it could be constructed as an ideal cottage garden. It was constructed like a jigsaw at the Finnieston yard so that it could be easily dismantled for transport by van to Strathclyde Park.

''You've also got to keep an eye on the weather. The snow and cold weather around Easter put at risk plants already earmarked for my exhibit - but I wasn't alone in having that problem,'' he said.''

He hopes the show will be another stage towards his aim. ''My long-term goal is to establish my business in the field of designing small gardens - including tenement front gardens. Those could be transformed by a combination of design work and landscaping - more people are realising this and Petit Jardins at the show should emphasise that. I'm delighted with that.''