A BBC TV crew filming for Britain in Bloom visited Richmond on Saturday as the town prepares for the national competition.
The visit of the crew has not been officially confirmed, however Richmondshire Today understands that they spent the day in the town, which will be featured during a series of shows looking at communities preparing for the contest.
TV presenter Chris Bavin was spotted around the town with volunteers.
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The Original Richmond, Richmond Business and Tourism Association has entered the town into the Yorkshire in Bloom competition, which is one of 16 regional RHS Britain in Bloom campaigns around Britain.
Judges will visit the town in six weeks on Tuesday, July 3.
It is hoped the competition will raise the profile of the town as a beautiful place to live and visit.
Working with Richmondshire District Council and Richmond Town Council the committee is aiming to create interest among the community on how Richmond is presented and cared for.
Organisers say the interest in Original Richmond in Bloom is gathering momentum and local businesses are stepping up to the challenge, as well as members of the public getting behind the initiative and adopting small areas of the route, which they are planning to improve.
Two neglected areas have been selected for major improvements and businesses are sponsoring these areas through funding and manpower.
Work started yesterday on these gardens with volunteers joining the owners of Mocha Chocolate Shop and Neeps and Tatties at the Gas Holder Garden down by the waterfall.
Richmondshire District Council have laid gravel in the top area and provided top soil, which volunteers have used to create herb beds.
Children enjoyed a day of digging and planting alongside the adult helpers.
Just up the road on Park Wynd, McLuckie Projects and Yorkshire Country Holidays have taken on part of the old Mill Orchard with the support of Hunton and Garget Solicitors.
On Saturday a team of workers cleared the site of brambles, nettles and self-set saplings ready to bring in a machine to level the land.
The plan is to plant a community orchard with soft-fruit trees and bushes and a bench to sit and admire the view.
Just the Job Environmental Enterprises are working on their orchard at Gallowfields and are also providing care for hanging baskets around the Market Place, strimming areas and providing large flower-filled boxes to go at each of the signs at the entrances to Richmond.
Generous support is also coming in, including donations of plants from Ravensworth Nurseries and local gardeners.
Richmond Town Council and the RBTA have given financial support and local businesses, Hunton and Garget Solicitors, and ProPharma are sponsoring staff to volunteer to work on tasks alongside individuals from the community.
Purple Creative, City Secret and Kersty Jordan, from G Design, have all given freely of their time to create publicity for the initiative.
Volunteers say there is much work to be completed in the next six weeks along the judging route, which starts at The Station, where Richmondshire Landscape Trust will be putting on a display about the town’s wildflower meadows.
From The Station the route crosses the Mercury Bridge, down to The Batts along to the Old Orchard and the Gas Holder Garden. The group then goes up Millgate and Tower Street into the Market Place, taking a walk along Finkle Street and King Street into Queens Road, passing Friary Gardens and Pottergate Garden.
From here the judges will be taken by car along Darlington Road, up Cross Lanes, down Gilling Road and along Beechfield Road up to the racecourse
They will then return to visit Just the Job before heading off to Hurgill Road and round to the Westfields Allotments.
The return trip takes the judges down Cravengate to the Green and across the Green bridge back into the parish of St. Martins.
Theakston lane will bring them back to The Station and up into the Market Place to finish at the Town Hall.
In addition to the overall judging of the town, the judges will also be assessing five separate small business entries – York House, Millgate House, Yorkshire Country Holidays, King Street Kitchen & Gift and Just the Job.
Marcia McLuckie, leader of the Original Richmond In Bloom committee, said: “Richmond, always beautiful, is going for gold so must look its very best when judging takes place on July 3.
“We have received some interesting media notice for our In Bloom project and we are hoping for some excellent publicity for the start of the 2019 tourist season.
“Please make the most of this opportunity and get behind Original Richmond In Bloom.”
Marcia said she could not comment on film crew in the town yesterday, but added: “It was an exciting day, but still under wraps so watch this space.”
Before judging day, the committee are asking for all the encouragement, constructive criticism, compliments and better still all the help anyone can give.
To find out more please visit www.originalrichmond.co.uk, go to original Richmond In Bloom on the Home Page, click on ‘Read More’ for further information and a downloadable leaflet.
If you would like to become involved, please email info@originalrichmond.co.uk or telephone Marcia McLuckie on 01748 825525 / 07740 927 608.
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Very poor no floral display on library gardens
Public gardens only friary gardens