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The Harrogate Spring Flower Show

© Stuart Buchanan MacWatt

First of the Spring Flower Shows
Harrogate's annual four day 'Chelsea Flower Show' of the North' opens on 25 April at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Wetherby Road, under the auspices of the North of England Horticultural Society. This is the first of two annual shows and is followed by an Autumn Flower Show in September, the annual national showcase for the National Dahlia Society and the National Chrysanthemum Society.

The Society was formed in 1911, when the good citizens of Harrogate decided that the Royal Horticultural Society's shows in far-off London discriminated against competitors from the north. The Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the Chelsea Flower Show in May each year, helped form and advise the society (which it still does), and members of the Royal Family became involved: notably, in 1950, when Queen Elizabeth's aunt Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, the then Princess Royal, became its patron, serving in that capacity until her death in 1965.

Apart from people-watching, (this is a great Yorkshire social occasion), the Spring Show attractions include the Daffodil Society's "Largest Daffodil Show in the North", an Alpine Garden Society Show on the Saturday, an early season Tulip Show and a range of flower displays in what is said to be one of the largest flower display marquees in the world. Regional corporations such as Halifax and Leeds vie with each other in the creation of exotic displays. The show is also well attended by horticultural, garden furniture, craft firms and quality food associations such as Yorkshire Pantry. This latter includes a number of specialist country cheese producers and makers of chutneys, preserves and honey.

On the last day, look out for the late-afternoon sale of plants from the show's displays.

Spring Show tickets cost from £7 to £12, depending on the day although membership of the North of England Horticultural Society (which costs £20) brings a complimentary ticket entitling two people to free admission at the spring show and its autumn cousin. Membership enquiries should be made to Mrs Jane Kitchen, North of England Horticultural Society, 4a South Park Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 5QU; tel: 01423 561049; fax: 01423 536880.

There is no formal dress code for this show, although the presence of the pride of Yorkshire gentry would suggest that an effort is made to dress smartly in this elegant Yorkshire city.

The Charms of Harrogate
Harrogate retains its genteel respectability and elegance from its days as a fashionable Victorian spa under the Royal patronage of the Sovereign's Duchy of Lancaster.