Harrogate BID have claimed a trio of top prizes at this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards.
The Business Improvement District’s (BID’s) Floral Summer of Celebration event won Gold at the awards, following the ‘Friendship’ themed trail held earlier in the year.
Ten dazzling displays were set up around Harrogate, attracting thousands of visits into the town centre.
The judges said they were given a “very warm welcome” by the BID team on the launch day of the Floral Celebration.
They added that displays brought a “friendly, unique” feel to the town centre over the summer months and highlighted the positive support from local businesses.
The BID team also brought home Gold and were declared Category Winner in the BID/Town/City Centre prize.
The judges recognised all the additional work the BID provides to support Harrogate as a significant floral destination, praising the successful Floral Shop Window Competition – organised by the BID in Harrogate every year – and the co-ordination of the hanging and barrier baskets across the town centre.
Both Harrogate in Bloom and Harrogate BID also took home the 2024 Yorkshire Rose Discretionary prize for the Best Entry Supporting Tourism.
The In Bloom judges described the horticultural standards in Harrogate as “outstanding”, suggesting it was a pleasure to meet the people and communities that take great pride in looking after and improving the town’s green spaces.
The judges stated that it’s clear to see successful working partnerships between Harrogate BID, North Yorkshire Council, The North of England Horticultural Society and Harrogate in Bloom – all of which benefit adding to its well-known positive reputation.
Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID Manager, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to win these three prestigious awards, it’s a true reflection of the extremely hard work that goes into contributing to our town’s floral heritage.
“Our Floral Summer of Celebration, held for the third time this year, was another great success – with more than 500,000 people passing through the BID area during the trail.
“We know our town is famed as a horticultural haven and as the BID we continue to support this through our floral-themed campaigns and events, as well as through additional means including both barrier and hanging baskets.
“I’d like to thank all of the organisations that not only backed our entry to Yorkshire in Bloom, but our floral offer as a whole in 2024. To be recognised regionally is a huge honour for us!”
Plans are already underway for next year’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, with the BID team hoping to bring it back bigger and better than ever.
The floral trail claimed the Gold prize during the Britain in Bloom awards in 2023 – with the BID team setting their sights on regaining this crown in the coming years.
It was a successful day all round for team Harrogate with Gold and Platinum awards going to key organisations including Harrogate in Bloom, Horticap, Rudding Park, Goldsborough Hall, Valley Gardens, Starbeck in Bloom and North Yorkshire Council.
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