People power sees Yorkshire garden make Chelsea history
Published: 28 May 2011
Welcome to Yorkshire has made Chelsea Flower Show history by becoming the first exhibitor to win the prestigious People's Choice award two years in a row.
The Art of Yorkshire garden, inspired by Yorkshire's artists and those who have found their inspiration in Yorkshire, won the 2011 award mirroring the success of Welcome to Yorkshire's debut garden the Rhubarb Crumble and Custard Garden in 2010, which is now housed at RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "In just two years of exhibiting, our Welcome to Yorkshire gardens have become firm public favourites. We have had a fantastic response from visitors all week but winning the award is recognition from them that they really did think our garden was the best in show.
"It's a fantastic result for everyone involved in the creation of the garden and a wonderful result for Yorkshire as it puts our county's great gardens on the map in a big way."
Kate Dundas, Landscape Architect at Gillespies, Leeds, said: "To be crowned the people's favourite is very special indeed, but to be part of Chelsea history for winning back-to-back People's Choice awards is just phenomenal. I have to thank all the lovely people I have met this week who have taken the time to vote for us, we really appreciate the public pat on the back to go with our two silver medals."
The award-winning Art of Yorkshire is to be relocated to Wakefield, birthplace of Barbara Hepworth whose 1958 sculpture Ascending Form was a star attraction in the garden.
Cllr Peter Box CBE, Leader of Wakefield Council, said he was delighted that Welcome to Yorkshire was donating its award-winning Chelsea Flower Show garden to Wakefield.
He said: "The garden has a sculpture theme so it will be great to have it in Wakefield as we continue to draw thousands of visitors into The Hepworth Wakefield, which opened recently.
"The gallery is already a huge success and attracting visitors from all over the UK and abroad. It puts not only Wakefield but Yorkshire high up on the list of places to go. We will look for a suitable location for the garden and make sure it is well-positioned to emphasise just how proud we are of sculpture in the Wakefield district."
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This is the second year in a row that Welcome to Yorkshire and Gillespies have achieved both a Silver medal and the People's Choice award.
Editors' Notes:
• Welcome to Yorkshire is the official tourism agency for Yorkshire, working to grow the county's visitor economy.
• Welcome to Yorkshire is funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.
• Key facts include:
• Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £7 billion annually
• The county's industry employs almost a quarter of a million people
• There are 216 million visits to Yorkshire each year
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Beverley Richmond - Press Officer
Email: brichmond@yorkshire.com
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Jo Francisco - Press Officer
Email: jfrancisco@yorkshire.com
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