A GARDEN inspired by York Minster will be created three times in three different places by students and staff from a college near York.

The garden, called ‘In sight of the Minster,’ will first be built at the Great Yorkshire Showground for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show later this week.

It will then be dismantled and re-created in York’s Coppergate Centre, where it will remain for the city’s Bloom! Festival in June.

It will finally move to a permanent home, following a competition in which community groups and organisations will be able to apply for the garden to be theirs.

The 6m x 6m garden, intended to reflect the Minster’s significance and huge impact, and depicting key aspects of the iconic building, is being created by Askham Bryan College.

Jess Herbert, the college’s head of horticulture, said: “Most gardens built for shows are seldom enjoyed beyond the event. We want this garden to have a lasting impact, and in effect we will be re-cycling it so that ultimately it has an on-going community benefit.

“The idea is to have a garden with a totally different dimension so that as well as celebrating the importance of such a historic building, it underlines the value of creating a lasting legacy which can be enjoyed by many – gardeners and non-gardeners alike.”

College grounds manager Kevin Shepherd had the original idea for the garden, in which yew hedging - a familiar sight in many churchyards - is being used to represent the city’s famous walls, while decorative tree supports reflect the Minster’s flying buttresses and an arched window frame planted with strong colours represents the Minster windows’ vibrancy.

*The flower show takes place from Thursday until Sunday. For information on how to apply for the garden to be yours, email gardenforeverhome@askham-bryan.ac.uk.