The Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2008

The current economic gloom certainly doesn’t seem to have dampened the British public’s enthusiasm for gardening as crowds flocked to the first major show of the season last weekend.

“The Harrogate Spring Flower Show has a very loyal visitor base,” said NEHS press officer, Mary Bond, “and despite some poor weather forecasts they turned up in their thousands, with Saturday being our second busiest ever. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society should be congratulated on providing some of the best all-weather facilities for an outdoor event.”

There were treats in store throughout the show with particular interest in the new college garden design area. “The sponsors, Bradstone, were rather nervous about what they would find when they arrived on site last week,” said Mrs Bond. “It was a leap of faith on their part to provide hard landscaping materials to students with limited building Bishop Burton College - Premier Awardexperience as shoddy workmanship could have been a disaster. But they were delighted with the results – the seven gardens proved to be a great showcase for their products. The public also appreciated the down-to-earth brief the students worked to and much discussion was heard about which college provided the best solution to the perennial wheelie bin problem!” Bishop Burton College picked up the top Premier award, with Craven College and Leeds Met close on its heels, both with Golds. Leeds Met - Gold Award

The ‘Yorkshire’ theme for the new Innovative Display category for the nurseries in the Flower Halls was also a big hit with the visitors, with Matthewman Sweetpeas’ colourful Liquorice Allsorts exhibit just pipping Liquorice Allsorts - Matthewman Sweetpeas Park Lane Nurseries’ Tea at Bettys display to the top prize and trophy. BBC Radio Leeds’ gardening guru, Joe Maiden, came in third with a very popular stand depicting a Yorkshire farmer and his vegetables.

“This is the first show to have successfully introduced the idea of innovative display,” said Mrs Bond, “and our visitors loved it. The judges were careful to ensure that the usual high horticultural standards were adhered to but understood the need to encourage more adventurous displays. The exhibitors who took part Tea at Bettys - Park Green Nursrieswere extremely enthusiastic and are already speculating about the theme we will choose next time.”

And what of that seemingly shy and retiring new rose introduction ‘Harrogate’? Despite warmer weather over the weekend, nurseryman Keith Jones was unable to persuade her to bloom. “It’s so frustrating,” he said. “But we’ll both be back for the Autumn show in September and you’ll be able to see her in all her glory.”

Tickets for the Autumn show will go on sale in June.