Harrogate and District Branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild have created a 6ft model of the Great Yorkshire Show made entirely from sugar.
The colourful display depicts the Yorkshire’s premier agricultural event. The arrangement was created by the eighteen members of the guild and has taken since January to complete.
The guild showed their creation in the North of England Cake and Decorating show, under the brief ‘Celebrating the Glories of Northern England.’
Their display won silver and is now on show in The Stray Ferret office window, in the centre of Harrogate, for a month.
The sugarcraft display of the Great Yorkshire Show in The Stray Ferret window
The display is all handmade, inedible, and will not melt due to the high sugar content.
Other entries in the competition depicted Blackpool tower, The Angel of the North and Keswick mountain rescue.
There are multiple sugarcraft disciplines on the table including royal icing, flood work, sugar paste coating, marzipan modelling, bas relief, decoupage, gelatine work and cocoa painting.
The guild has existed for 35 years and Lesley Dalton has been chair of the Harrogate branch for more than 25 years.
Ms Dalton said:
“Someone suggested doing the Great Yorkshire Show and we all thought that was brilliant. I am absolutely thrilled with all of the work we’ve done; I am so proud of the girls they have done an amazing job.”
Sugarcraft members, Left to Right: Judy Banks, Lorraine Stewart and Lesley Dalton
The majority of members first began sugarcrafting after making birthday cakes for their families and enjoyed the practice and wanted to improve their skills.
Ms Dalton said:
“The guild isn’t a very good name it makes people think we are extremely experienced. We are always looking for new members, if you enjoy decorating cakes come and join us and you can learn and better your skills. If you like the look of it come and join us.”
The guild meet every month on the second Monday, except August and December, in Harlow community village hall at 7.30 pm.
The Great Yorkshire Show created by the Harrogate and District Branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild
Sugarcrafted animals in the Great Yorkshire Show display
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Harrogate district’s floral displays fall victim to hosepipe ban
The Harrogate district’s famous floral displays will soon be looking worse for wear due to the hosepipe ban.
The ban came into force today and Harrogate Borough Council has confirmed it won’t be watering plants until it is lifted.
Yorkshire Water acted following months of dry weather, which have depleted water levels in the district’s reservoirs such as Thruscross and Swinsty.
It’s the first hosepipe ban in the area since 1995 and means the council’s parks and environmental services team, which looks after floral displays in parks as well as in towns and the city of Ripon, will have to watch its hard work wither until the ban is lifted.
The district’s floral displays are a source of local pride.
Little rain is forecast for the remainder of the month.
A council spokesperson said:
“The Yorkshire Water website states that during the period of the ban councils cannot use hosepipes or sprinklers to water floral beds, displays or hanging baskets in public locations.
“This unfortunately means that we are not able to continue watering the floral beds, hanging baskets, barrier baskets or floral tubs around the Harrogate district.
“Using watering cans is not practical and continues to use water from our water supplies, which are currently in short supply and high demand”.
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The council also runs a subsidised hanging basket scheme in which businesses pay the council to provide the basket and plants. Staff then water and maintain the baskets throughout the summer.
The council says businesses who use the scheme will not be eligible for a refund.
Its spokesperson added:
“The hanging basket scheme is already subsidised by the council to reduce the price of baskets to businesses in the town centre.
“The hosepipe ban has come in at the end of the season so hopefully with lower temperatures and a bit of rain over the coming weeks the baskets will last a few more weeks until they are scheduled to be removed late September.
“Whilst the hosepipe ban is unfortunate, it is also important that as community leaders we play our part in adhering to the restrictions and highlighting the need to conserve water”.