Harrogate has been awarded a gold medal and been named a winner in the small city category at last night’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards.
The annual awards encourage communities of all sizes to use flowers to brighten up the landscape as well as foster community spirit and civic pride.
Although Harrogate is a town, it was entered in the ‘small city’ category due to the size of its population and took first place at a ceremony in Tadcaster.
Harrogate Borough Council maintains parks and green spaces across the district.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which undertakes schemes to drive footfall to the town centre, also won a gold medal and was category winner in the BID division.
Harrogate’s Valley Gardens received a platinum award and Starbeck won a gold medal in the urban community category.
There was success too for Ripon, which took a platinum award for Spa Gardens, a silver gilt award for the city itself and a discretionary award for the best platinum jubilee display.
The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park was awarded a Gold Medal in the Tourist Attractions Award category and a Best Conservation Project Award.
Joel Dibb, Head Gardener said:
“The Garden suffered devastating tree losses last winter due to the disease Phytophthora ramorum. The team took up the challenge to replant and move on from this distressing event and have had a busy year selecting and replanting trees.
The discretionary Conservation Project Award recognises all this hard work and the wildlife conservation we do to keep the garden wildlife friendly.”
A post on Harrogate in Bloom’s Facebook page said:
“Well done to all our local community groups and to the team at Harrogate Borough Council – here’s to further success in 2023!”
Yorkshire in Bloom is a charity incorporated organisation and a regional body representing the RHS Britain in Bloom campaign that is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Judges assess criteria developed by the RHS in consultation with the regions.
Read more:
- New plans to tackle traffic on Harrogate’s A61
- Gavin and Stacey star coming to Ripon on Saturday afternoon
.
