GARDENS around Yorkshire are celebrating after being named as winners in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards.

Middlethorpe Hall and Spa in York won the prestigious gold award in the large hotel category.

Head gardener David Barker who has worked there for 32 years, said all his assistants and volunteers should share the praise, adding: “This is the fourth in a row for the best in category, and we’ve been getting golds since 2008 so we’ve set a standard every year; we try and improve and that’s what helps keep us in the top lot.”

In Pocklington, Burnby Hall Gardens won the gold award for the fifth consecutive year in the category of country houses, estates, parks and gardens, and has also been shortlisted for the Welcome To Yorkshire White Rose Awards for the Best Small Visitor Attraction, which will be announced in November.

Peter Rogers, from Burnby Hall, said: “We’re so pleased and proud to have won this award again.

“Our estate manager Ian Murphy and the gardening staff do so much to make the Burnby Hall Gardens so special. To have won this award five years in succession reflects the dedication they show to keeping everything to such a high standard. The tulip festival in the spring, the themed gardens and woodland, and the beautiful water lilies on display during the summer months make this a really lovely place for our visitors.”

Other success stories were Ryedale Folk Museum,Treasurer’s House, York and York Racecourse which all won gold in the visitor attraction category.

The Homestead Park in Clifton, York, and York’s Museum Gardens won gold in the country houses, estates, parks and gardens category, while York St John University won gold in the universities, colleges and educational establishments.

Celebrations were also ringing out in the Harrogate district which took three category wins, four discretionary Yorkshire Rose Awards and 15 medals.

Spofforth took a gold medal and won the village category; Starbeck won gold and the urban community category; and Knaresborough won gold and the large town/small city category.

Councillor Phil Ireland, from Harrogate council, said: “The awards do not only showcase the best floral displays across Yorkshire, they also recognise the hard work and dedication of the volunteers, businesses, school children, community groups, and other organisations who help create these eye-catching horticultural designs.”

Awards also went to Harrogate’s Rudding Park Hotel, Nidd Hall Hotel in Knaresborough, Knaresborough Castle and certificates of achievement for Knaresborough, Kirkby Malzeard and Starbeck for the specially-created features to mark the Tour de France Grand Départ, and Spofforth for its displays commemorating the First World War.


LOCAL WINNERS

Bramham (Gold - large village).

Scarborough Old Town (Silver - urban community).

Hunmanby (Gold & Category winner - small town).

Kirkbymoorside (Silver Gilt - Small Town).

Goole (Silver - large town/small city).

Grimston Court Care Home, York (Silver Gilt - public, private and charitable estate).

Knaresborough House (Gold - public, private and charitable estate).

Rosevale Care Home, York (Silver gilt - public, private and charitable estate).

Swan Court, Harrogate (Silver - public, private and charitable estate).

Basin Howe Farm Cottages, Scarborough (Gold and category winner - guest houses, holiday cottages and small hotels).

Earswick Scented Garden Project, York (Outstanding - It’s Your Neighbourhood).

Foxwood Residents Association, York (Thriving - It’s Your Neighbourhood).

York St. John University (Gold - universities, colleges and educational establishments).