GREEN FINGERS – IT HAS TO BE HARROGATE
Tourism agency Visit Harrogate launches its annual Gardens Guide to celebrate National Gardening Week (30 April – 6 May).
It launches the guide at Harrogate Spring Flower Show (26-29 April) - the biggest exhibition of flower arranging and floristry in Britain which dates back to 1934 and attracts up to 40,000 people each year as a major event in the national gardening calendar.
The town features RHS Harlow Carr Gardens, featuring 58 acres of stunning gardens, its famous 17-acre English Heritage Grade II listed Valley Gardens with its recently completed Japanese Garden, and a 220-acre Stray protected by Royal decree.
The Stray has had seven million crocus planted for an eye-popping floral treat in spring, alongside its famed avenue of blossom trees, officially the most photographed spot in Harrogate.
Harrogate has entered regional, national and international in Bloom awards since they began over 40 years ago and are multi-gold award winners. It picked up the coveted gold award in the elite Champion of Champions category of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition for 2017. The town has twice won Europe in Bloom.
Alongside the spa town, the Harrogate district includes Ripon, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Masham and Pateley Bridge. The Gardens Guide 2018 features amongst others, Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, Newby Hall, RHS Harlow Carr and The Stray, with event highlights and the National Garden Scheme (NGS) Open Gardens dates across the district, alongside tips for gardeners.
Newby Hall Gardens is one of the North’s most important 20th century gardens. It boasts one of the longest double herbaceous borders in the country. The 172-metre-long border with 6,500 plants is set to hit full maturity in 2018. The border has been a highlight of Newby’s 25-acre gardens since the 1920s.
Harrogate is known as the Gateway to the Dales.
The Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty also falls in its district. The AONB is designated as one of the UK’s protected landscapes with moorlands and flower-rich grassland. It’s also home to historic gardens, including the Himalayan Garden, a botanical masterpiece featuring natural springs and lakes, and the ancient Fishpond Wood, a once extensive network of pleasure gardens landscaped in the 18th century, in 1885 around 3,000 people came by special trains to visit the pleasure gardens.
ENDS
NOTES to EDITORS
Harrogate's floral record
1975 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'
1976 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1977 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'; Winner, 'Entente Florale'
1978 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1979 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1980 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1981 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1982 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1983 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1984 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1985 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'
1986 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'All England'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1987 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1988 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Joint 3rd, 'All England'
1989 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Winner, 'All England'; Finalist, 'Britain in Bloom'
1990 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1991 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'Britain in Bloom'
1992 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
1993 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1994 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'Britain in Bloom'
1995 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'Britain in Bloom'
1996 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1997 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'; Finalist, 'Britain in Bloom'.
1998 Joint Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
1999 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
2000 Runner-up, 'Britain in Bloom'
2001 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
2002 Winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
2003 Gold Medal and Winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
2004 Gold Award, 'Entente Florale'
2005 Gold Award and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside'
2006 Silver Gilt Award RHS 'Champion of Champions'
2007 Silver Gilt Award, and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside' region
2008 Gold Award and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside' region
2009 Gold Award and winner RHS 'Britain in Bloom' plus RHS Discretionary Award for Best Public Park
2010 Silver Gilt Award RHS 'Champion of Champions' plus RHS Discretionary Award for Tourism
2011 Gold Award and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside' region plus the YiB Summer Floral Award
2012 Gold Medal Award, 'Britain in Bloom'.
2013 Gold Award and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside' region
2014 Gold Medal Award, 'Britain in Bloom'.
2015 Gold Medal Award and winner, 'Yorkshire & Humberside' Region and finalist in Britain in Bloom 2016
2016 Gold Medal Award and winner, 'Britain in Bloom'
2017 Harrogate one of just seven areas in the country to be invited to enter RHS Britain in Bloom 'Champion of Champions'
2017 Gold Medal Award Champion of Champions Britain in Bloom 2017
Figures from: https://www.harrogateinbloom.org.uk/in-bloom-record
Harrogate - A Top 5 - Horticulture Attractions
1. Harrogate Spring Flower Show, 26-29 April 2018
The first spring and autumn flower shows took place in 1934, hosted by the North of England Horticultural Society (NEHS). It is now the biggest exhibition of flower arranging and floristry in Britain. Hosted at the Great Yorkshire Showground, it attracts up to 40,000 people each year as major national events in the gardening calendar.
Harrogate Spring Flower Show was rated Britain’s top gardening event by Which? This spectacular celebration of the very best in horticulture features show gardens, live entertainment and the biggest exhibition by florists and flower arrangers in the country.
The Plant Pavilion features 100 leading nurseries, and there are thousands of high-quality garden products and gifts, as well as speciality foods on offer. Marvel at over 150 painstakingly prepared works of art, and large scale displays, created by flower clubs and floristry colleges across the country. There’s also a lively programme of talks and demonstrations.
2. Valley Gardens
The Valley Gardens in Harrogate are a 17-acre English Heritage Grade II listed garden, it includes a children’s playground, skate park, paddling pool, games, band concerts and historic features such as the Sun Pavilion. It recently restored its Japanese Garden with support from the Heritage Lottery.
As well as being an attraction in itself, it regularly hosts events. Don’t miss the hugely popular annual 1940s day that takes place on Sunday June 17th, hosted by Harrogate International Festivals. A family day out with the backdrop of these stunning gardens, it features children’s rides, food trucks, cake stalls, a bar and Pimms tent, stalls selling vintage clothes, wartime military vehicles, a bandstand featuring the Harrogate Band and the Harrogate Harmony Barbershop Chorus. Weather permitting there will be a thrilling low-level flypast.
3. RHS Harlow Carr
RHS Garden Harlow Carr is in walking distance from the town centre, featuring 58 acres of stunning gardens. From waves of bright spring bulbs to enchanting rhododendrons in the woodland, spring is a joy at Harlow Carr.
There’s always something going on, but it also boasts its own RHS Garden Harlow Carr Flower Show from 22-24 June. The three-day floral extravaganza is packed with specialist nurseries and trade stands, gorgeous displays, expert advice and tempting food. It features quality plants and sundries from almost 50 specialist nurseries and garden trade companies, from alpines and agapanthus to clematis and carnivorous plants.
You can also get advice from well-known garden writers and broadcasters, and question-and-answer sessions with members of the RHS Garden Advice Service. What’s more, it is home to Harrogate’s world famous Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms, with a Bettys Tea House in the heart of the garden, so you can recharge your batteries with a cup of tea and delicious cake.
4. The Stray
The Stray features two hundred acres of the finest grass that wraps around Harrogate. There’s only really one time to experience The Stray for flower power, and that’s in the spring. It has had seven million crocus planted for an eye-popping floral treat, then at the end of April, the avenues of spring blossoms are a sight to behold.
The Stray was officially set aside as a public park in the Duchy of Lancaster Commissioners' great Award of 1778, which followed the 1770 Act of Enclosure. It exists for the people of the town and is protected by an act of Parliament, the Stray Act 1985. It features annual fairs, circuses and the town’s bonfire night.
5. Fishpond Wood
For more of a walk on the wild side, away from Harrogate town centre, located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - is Fishpond Wood. The ancient wood is part of a once extensive network of pleasure gardens for the Yorke family. Landscaped by John Yorke in the 18th century, it reflects the ‘picturesque’ movement, which promoted gardens which appeared natural or even wild. A once hugely tourism spot, in 1885 around 3,000 people came by special trains to visit the pleasure gardens. Alongside its eponymous pond, the partnership has restored a rare icehouse, built in the late 18th century, for preserving food. It’s also home to a rare resident, the European cave spider.
Although privately owned, it remains open for the public to enjoy its peace and beautiful woodland walks. This summer, there’s an opportunity to enjoy Fishpond Wood with the annual NiddFest – a family friendly festival for nature lovers. Over the weekend of 16 and 17 June, you can join a dawn bird walk in the ancient woodland or learn about its native bees. The festival also features some of the UK’s best nature writers, including Miriam Darlington and Rob Cowen, the Yorkshire Vet Julian Norton, and workshops on everything from foraging to photography.
Visit Harrogate https://www.visitharrogate.co.uk/