Great Yorkshire Show: Blooming marvellous for top gardeners

Celebrity gardener Carol Klein has presented the top awards for horticultural excellence.
120716  Jenny Hirst from Swillington near Leeds  from the Delphinium Society winners of the Doncaster Cup  for the best stand in the garden show  at the  Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate  being presented with the trophy by Carol  Klein from BBC TV .120716  Jenny Hirst from Swillington near Leeds  from the Delphinium Society winners of the Doncaster Cup  for the best stand in the garden show  at the  Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate  being presented with the trophy by Carol  Klein from BBC TV .
120716 Jenny Hirst from Swillington near Leeds from the Delphinium Society winners of the Doncaster Cup for the best stand in the garden show at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate being presented with the trophy by Carol Klein from BBC TV .

The Gardeners’ World star officially opened the ‘new look’ Garden Show housing practical demonstrations and colourful displays.

And, she said, she was impressed with its new marquee setting.

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“It’s absolutely fantastic,” she said. “The whole show is just marvellous. I could not believe the size and scale of it.

“This is a fantastic spot for it, it’s got a fantastic show atmosphere.

“I’ve not been before - but I’m coming again. This is just superb.”

Two-time award winners Fred and Jenny Hirst of The Delphinium Society, from Swillington in Leeds, were given the Doncaster Cup for their prize blooms.

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The retired couple, who took up gardening after handing over the family farm, say their win is down to a wet summer and late blooms.

“It’s fantastic,” said Mrs Hirst, 75. “It’s a late summer - that’s the difference.”

The couple have been exhibiting for 10 years, and have won once before in 2013.

Mr Hirst, a former arable and pig farmer, handed over the family-run 900 acre Brecks Farm to his two sons a decade ago.

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“I’ve only grown Delphiniums since retiring from farming,” the 80-year-old said. “I used to grow potatoes. When I stopped that I had to grow something.

“They’ve grown really well this year, it’s been a good growing season. They like the wet.”

As well as the creative blooms and demonstrations on display in the marquee was a complete cottage garden creation by students from Askham Bryan College near York.

Best Show Garden went to Leeds and District Allotment Gardeners’ Federation.

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