Harrogate Business Improvement District has won gold at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards.
The organisation, which aims to increase footfall in the town centre, was successful in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category.
It was recognised for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration campaign, a fortnight-long initiative that celebrated the town’s international connections through a series of town centre floral designs.
The summer of celebration was in addition to Harrogate BID’s regular floral offering of almost 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets.
One of the gold-winning displays.
Matthew Chapman, the manager of Harrogate, said:
“Three years ago this award was a huge aspiration of Harrogate BID and after winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards and then being entered as an RHS Britain in Bloom finalist, we are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a gold award.”
“This summer’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration was the second year of the campaign and it was a huge success, increasing footfall, spend and first impressions with visitors and residents alike.”
Pictured receiving the award from left to right: Pam Grant (Harrogate in Bloom), Bethany Allen (Harrogate BID), Matthew Chapman (Harrogate BID), Kitti Johnson (Harrogate BID) and Nick Smith (Harrogate Flower Shows)
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Harrogate band represents town at French flower festival
A Harrogate band has represented the town at a flower festival in Luchon in France — a place twinned with Harrogate.
Tewit Silver Band, based in Huby, recently returned from Luchon en Fleurs 2023, which celebrated all things floral.
The band – which is made up of 30 players aged between 13 and 78 – and invited to feature in several parades.
It gave its first performance in Sqaure Lauret where its marches and overtures entertained the crowd despite poor weather.
The following show took place in front of the Mairie – the mayor’s office – and was accompanied by a procession of horses and dancers.
Pics: Tewit Silver Band Facebook
The final performance was held at a church in Garin and ended with a standing ovation.
The band said in a statement:
“Our free time was spent discovering the natural beauty of the surrounding area that was spectacular despite the weather.
“Members enjoyed walks, visits to the local areas, swimming in the lake and sampling a few of the local bars and restaurants.”
Tewit Silver Band, a charity, was formed in 2017.
It competes in various national and international competitions, as well as private functions and charity events.
Harrogate is twinned with Luchon and recently held its own floral festival – Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration.
The relationship between the towns is overseen by Harrogate International Partnerships.
Read more:
Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration blossoms across town
The Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration has come into bloom across the town.
Harrogate BID has coordinated the floral celebration following success in Yorkshire in Bloom 2022.
Harrogate won overall winner in the Yorkshire Rose Town/City Centre BID category and was a finalist in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals.
The event is in partnership with local florist, Helen James Flowers, who was recently awarded a gold medal in the Floristry Awards category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.
The event will showcase several floral installations around the town, with help from Harrogate International Partnerships, RHS, Harrogate in Bloom, and North Yorkshire Council. These include props, an interactive floral trail, and a shop window competition.
The aim is to mark the town’s international links including the twinning of Harrogate with other towns such as Luchon in France, Barrie in Canada, and Wellington in New Zealand.
The shopfront of Helen James’s store on Station Parade.
The Yorkshire Air Museum, in York, has donated a wicker airplane from Canada to feature in the display, while Harrogate’s own Resurrected Bikes has provided bikes to form part of the display also.
Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID Manager, said:
“We are proud to be recognised as a finalist for the Britain in Bloom UK finals, especially as we are the only town in Yorkshire that made it through to this stage in the competition.
“The Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration will feature unique, vibrant and eye-catching floral displays, each telling a story of how international relations have flourished to bring together the very best of our respective cultures. From a giant Buddha to a floral musical wall, there will be plenty of exciting things to see and experience!”
Parts of the floral trail can be found near Nicholls Tyreman on a corner of Princes Square , Bettys, and the Victoria Shopping Centre.
The event draws on international links.
Helen James, from Helen James Flowers, said:
“We are so honoured to be involved with this special event, which aims to celebrate the town’s beauty and horticultural heritage through an array of stunning floral displays.
“We can’t wait to see the reaction from residents and visitors, as well as welcoming the Britain in Bloom judges.”
The Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration will be on display from Friday July 21, to Friday August 4.
More information on the event can be found here.
Read more:
- Businesses vote ‘yes’ to continue Harrogate BID
- Harrogate florist strikes gold at Chelsea Flower Show
Harrogate Flower Show will celebrate the mental health benefits of gardening
The mental health benefits of gardening are being celebrated at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show which starts tomorrow.
Designers from across the country will be creating a flash of floral inspiration aimed at showcasing the country’s growing connection with plants and flowers.
The four-day event at the Great Yorkshire Showground will feature ‘Grow Your Home’, a colourful installation created by floral stylists from Leeds-based Leafy Couture.
The display, featuring hundreds of blooms around a central courtyard setting, offers visitors a glimpse of the joys which flowers can bring, which was particularly highlighted during the pandemic.
Show director Nick Smith said:
“After a difficult time for many of us, this year’s Spring show concentrates entirely on the positives which plants and landscapes can bring to us all.
“Gardening is the great leveller – from sweeping lawns to a simple window box, we can all benefit from the life-affirming pleasure which plants and flowers can make to our own personal space.”
Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) has chosen the flower show to launch its latest campaign – ‘A Floral Summer of Celebration’.
Between July 15 and August 12, the town centre will be home to a floral trail featuring 10 unique displays, floral-themed shop windows and events starring key speakers from the world of gardening.
Pictured at their art deco-themed flower show stand: From left, Harrogate BID Chair Sara Ferguson, BID manager Matthew Chapman, Blameys florist Fran Addis, BID business and marketing executive Bethany Allen, Blameys owner Ruth Fisher and BID business liaison officer Jo Caswell.
This will be in addition to dozens of hanging baskets outside town centre businesses, the numerous flower beds maintained by Harrogate Borough Council, more than 200 barrier baskets funded by Harrogate BID and some specially commissioned floral street art.
Read more:
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Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:
“Harrogate is renowned for its floral displays; it’s the home to RHS Garden Harlow Carr, the stunning Valley Gardens, and of course the Spring Flower Show, which is one of the biggest and best in the North of England, if not the whole country.
“This summer, Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration will see us celebrating our floral excellence and the return of Yorkshire in Bloom after a two-year absence.”
Featuring show garden features, plant nursery displays and floral art, the show will include plenty of colour, style and inspiration.
Local charities will also be showcasing their work, including Jennyruth Workshops in Ripon and Horticap in Harrogate.
This year the programme of live entertainment includes talks and demos across four stages.
A new show, ‘Human Gardener’ will offer a series of fun and engaging sofa conversations with the people behind the plants – from bee inspectors to fungi fanatics.
Over on the Gardener’s Kitchen stage, TV cook and chef consultant Stephanie Moon will create dishes from veg patch produce, with the help of grow-your-own guru Martin Walker.
Meanwhile, the GROW! Live team will provide answers to gardening questions, whilst the CREATE! Floral stage will host celebrity floral designer Jonathan Moseley.
Thousands of garden products, handmade crafts, gifts and specialist foods will also be on offer.
Tickets
Pre-booked tickets with a £3 saving on gate prices are available online until midnight tonight.
Thursday to Saturday tickets are £20.50 online, £23.50 on the gate.
Sunday tickets are £18 online, £21 on the gate.
Children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. General car parking is free.