Harrogate Borough Council’s parks and environmental services team are celebrating their recent success in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards after picking up a GOLD award in the Visitor Attraction category for Knaresborough Castle and a SILVER GILT award in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category for Knaresborough House.
At the awards ceremony at York Racecourse on Tuesday 12 September there was success for schemes across the district:
- Spofforth – GOLD and Category Winner in the Village category
- Kirkby Malzeard – GOLD in the Village category
- Birstwith – SILVER GILT in the Village Category
- Boroughbridge – SILVER GILT in the Large Village category
- Pateley Bridge – SILVER GILT in Small Town category
- Knaresborough House – SILVER GILT in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category
- Horticap, Harrogate – SILVER in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category
- Hollins Hall, Hampsthwaite – GOLD in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments
- Friends of Valley Gardens, Harrogate – PLATINUM in the Parks and Open Spaces category
- Spofforth in Bloom, Ginny Green Holes Environmental Playscheme – PLATINUM in the Parks and Open Spaces category
- Spofforth in Bloom, Millenium Green – PLATINUM in the Parks and Open Spaces category
- The Manor House, Knaresborough – SILVER in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category
- The Police Treatment Centre, Harrogate – SILVER GILT in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category
- Graveleys of Harrogate – SILVER GILT in the Public Houses and Restaurants category
- The Winter Gardens, Harrogate – SILVER GILT in the Public Houses and Restaurants category
- Nidd Hall Hotel, Harrogate – GOLD and Category Winner in the Large Hotel category and winner of the Yorkshire Rose Sawley Arms Award
- Rudding Park, Harrogate – SILVER GILT in the Large Hotel category
- West Park Hotel, Harrogate – SILVER GILT in the Large Hotel category
- Knaresborough Castle – GOLD in the Visitor Attraction category
- Ripon Racecourse – GOLD in the Visitor Attraction category
- Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate – GOLD in the Large Business Premises category
- Harrogate Caravan Park – GOLD and Category Winner in the Caravan, Camping and Chalet Parks category
- Newby Hall, Ripon – GOLD in the Country Houses, Estates and Parks and Gardens category
- Stonefall Park and Panhandle, Harrogate – THRIVING in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood category
- Tidy Gardens Services, Harrogate – THRIVING in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood category
- Woodlands Community Garden, Harrogate – OUTSTANDING in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood category
- Moorside Infant School, Ripon – GOLD in Harrogate Flower Show Young People’s Award
James Howitt, Head Gardener at Knaresborough Castle said:
It is fantastic to have been recognised in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards. We are committed to making sure our gardens look fantastic for visitors and take great pleasure in designing unique floral displays which can literally stop people in their tracks.
Highlights this year included our floral design celebrating the 60th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 – the first artificial Earth satellite. We were lucky enough to work with students from Forest School to create a design showing a rocket shooting through the sky surrounded by planets and stars. Our cottage bedding has also been a feast for the eyes incorporating different colours and sizes of plants.
It is great to see people’s reactions to our designs and recognition in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards is simply ‘out of this world’.
Councillor Zoe Metcalfe, Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said:
It is a real feather in the cap to achieve success in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards. As a floral district we take great pride in the quality of our parks and gardens and a lot of work takes place throughout the year to ensure they look fantastic for everyone.
The award recognise the hard work of a wide range of people – including the council’s gardeners, nursery staff and street cleaning teams; local ‘In Bloom’ groups; volunteers; businesses; school children and community groups. They work tirelessly to create eye catching displays which seize the imagination and add a splash of colour. I would like to thank everyone for their sterling efforts in making our district look so beautiful and congratulate them all on their success.
