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Harrogate autumn flower show to celebrate 50th anniversary
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The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is set to mark its 50th anniversary this September.
Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society (NEHS), the event will return at Newby Hall and Gardens with a combination of five decades of flowers, fruit, vegetables and gardening inspiration.
The first event originated back in 1976, where the pioneering concept “show within a show” brought together independent, specialist gardening societies to create a comprehensive celebration of both ornamental and edible horticulture.
The event grew from its first stage in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, to Exhibition Halls in 1983, the Great Yorkshire Showground in 1995, and Newby Hall and Gardens in 2021.
Grand Floral Pavilion. Photo: NEHS.
Former Show Director and NEHS President, Martin Fish, who has been involved with the show for over 40 years and is also the host of the Grow! Live stage at both shows of the year, said:
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show holds so many fond memories for me, from my first visit as a young gardener in the early 1980s to later becoming President of the NEHS and then Show Director.
It is a real honour to be part of an event that represents the culmination of months, and sometimes years, of dedicated growing.
There is a wonderful harvest festival feel about the show, with beautiful blooms, immaculate fruit and vegetables and specialist nursery displays.
Now at Newby Hall, visitors also get to enjoy the gardens as they enter their beautiful autumn phase.
Newby Hall and Gardens. Photo: NEHS.
National Dahlia Society and National Chrysanthemum Society are among the founding organisations.
Ian Ledger, Secretary of the National Dahlia Society, said:
The idea of bringing multiple gardening societies together under one umbrella show was brilliant.
The Great Autumn Flower Show created a unique opportunity to celebrate specialist horticulture together, and it remains an incredibly important event for growers.
From a dahlia exhibitor’s perspective, it is the best dahlia show in the country, and it is a privilege to display and judge these wonderful flowers alongside other specialist societies.
Floral Art by the Window. Photo: NEHS.
Popular competitions, such as the National Onion Championship, will return this year.
Local celebrity chef and show contributor Stephanie Moon will cook a selection of 1970s-inspired seasonal dishes in one of Newby Hall’s kitchen garden areas.
She said:
The Autumn Flower Show celebrates nature’s bounty in all its glory.
I have so many wonderful memories from cooking at the show over the years, from creating dishes using giant vegetables to introducing young chefs to the stage.
It is always full of energy, creativity and amazing seasonal and local produce - and it’s a joy to be part of it.
Grand Floral Pavilion. Photo: NEHS.
There are plenty of events for families to enjoy their time at the Autumn Flower Show.
The Little Nature Rangers Zone is bringing children with hands-on activities including birds of prey, free face painting and floral crafts.
Nick Smith, show director, said:
Reaching 50 years is a remarkable achievement and we are incredibly proud of the show’s heritage.
This anniversary is a celebration of everyone who has contributed over the decades - the growers, exhibitors, societies, volunteers and visitors who have made the Autumn Show what it is today.
We are looking forward to creating a very special event this September and welcoming visitors to celebrate this golden milestone with us.
Tickets can be purchased online before and during the show at www.flowershow.org.uk or on the gate.
Admission includes access to Newby’s gardens, 15 stunning garden ‘rooms’ and family adventure garden.
This year's event will be held from September 18 to 20.
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