A brass band, a Wensleydale sheep and Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese brand are among the features of the Welcome to Yorkshire show garden at RHS Chelsea.
The garden has been lovingly created by Yorkshire-born designer Mark Gregory who is marking his 30th consecutive year at the prestigious flower show.
His design is inspired by the Yorkshire Dales, famed for its drystone walls and pretty villages sitting amongst traditional farming landscapes and flower-rich hay meadows.
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A Wensleydale sheep, representing the unique livestock found in Yorkshire, has taken centre stage in the garden and a cheesemaking demonstration has been held in the stone bothy by Wensleydale Creamery, showcasing the fantastic produce that comes from the area.
Traditional Yorkshire entertainment was provided by members of City of Bradford Brass band, dressed in floral waistcoats by Wild Renata Flowers which is run by Leeds College of Art graduate Lara Sanjar.
Sir Gary Verity DL, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “What better way to launch this stunning Dales inspired garden than with a brass band, a Wensleydale sheep and Wensleydale cheese – all so quintessentially Yorkshire.
“This garden beautifully brings the spirit of our great county to life in the heart of the capital. I hope everyone who sees it loves it as much as we do and puts a visit to Yorkshire at the top of their to-do list.”
Mark Gregory, garden designer, said: “It’s been truly magical seeing the garden come to life; I had a dream and the reality is even better than I could have imagined.
“The build has been a wonderful experience and I feel as if I’ve been conducting a fantastic orchestra.
“I hope I’ve done my beloved Yorkshire proud and that visitors to Chelsea will love seeing it as much as I’ve loved creating it “
David Hartley, MD of the Wensleydale Creamery, said: “We are very excited to be part of this wonderful project which has beautifully brought to life a little piece of our beloved Yorkshire Dales in Chelsea.
“What an amazing setting to showcase our handcrafted Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese in a truly authentic setting.
“We hope it will inspire our Southern neighbours to come up to explore the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, with a visit our Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre, of course.”
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chief executive, David Butterworth, said: “It’s wonderful to see how our support for this special garden, inspired by the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, has helped turn it into a reality.
“We hope that the people who see the garden at the Chelsea Flower Show will, in turn, be inspired to come and see and experience the Yorkshire Dales National Park for themselves.”
