Harrogate show moving to new home
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is to move to a new home next year. The popular event, which stages the Giant Vegetable competition and National Heavy Onion Championship, will move to Newby Hall & Gardens from next September. The future of the event, organised by charity the North of England Horticultural Society, was recently placed under review, resulting in the decision to move the autumn event to Newby Hall, 15 miles north, near Ripon, while keeping the spring show at the Great Yorkshire Showground on the outskirts of the spa town.
Visitors to the new location will also have access to Newby’s 25 acres of famous gardens, complete with 14 garden rooms and world-famous double herbaceous borders, as well as a children’s adventure garden.
“Any good attraction or event should regularly review what it's able to offer and ensure it stays both relevant and vibrant for its visitors,” said show director Nick Smith. “We've always opened and closed the UK gardening season with two very distinct events in spring and autumn. We can now celebrate those differences by offering two very different venues as well as two very different shows.”
Originally held in Harrogate Valley Gardens, the events moved to the town's Exhibition Halls in 1983 and the Great Yorkshire Showground in 1995.
■ The Harrogate Spring Flower Show, the Great Yorkshire Showground, April 23-26, 2020. ■ The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, September 18-20, 2020. Visit www. flowershow.org.uk.