HORTICULTURAL research facility Stockbridge Technology Centre has been showcasing its new LED lighting for the first time at the Great Yorkshire Show this week.

The team at Selby-based Stockbridge was invited onto the Meet the Grower stand by Mike Prest, from the Yorkshire Agriculture Society, to show visitors how LED lights can revolutionise urban farming.

Stockbridge Technology Centre's science director Dr Martin McPherson, who showcased the LED lights for the first time away from Stockbridge House, said: "We recreated mini versions of some of the exciting trials that we are doing with LED lights so that members of the public could see how they influence all year round cropping and understand the opportunities that are likely to be available for both commercial and amateur growers in the future."

Dr McPherson and fellow Stockbridge board member, Nigel Bartle, also addressed the audience on the Garden Show Stage, yesterday, with a talk entitled ‘An Example of Innovation in Horticultural Practice' with Nigel talking about LED lighting in tomatoes and Martin talking about the next level of city, or urban, farming.

The Meet the Grower area is designed to encourage visitors to the show to talk to producers to learn more about where their food comes from.

Members of the East Yorkshire Local Food Network were also exhibiting, as well as flower arranging demonstrations using flowers grown by East Yorkshire flower farmer, Gill Hodgson from Flowers from the Farm.