We are teaming up with Welcome to Yorkshire for this year's Chelsea Flower Show to celebrate the county's rich industrial heritage and the hundreds of miles of stunning waterways which run across the county.
We are helping to make sure the garden brings to life a totally authentic Yorkshire experience by providing old lock gates from the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to form the focal point of the garden.
People from across the Trust, including volunteer lock keepers, heritage experts, and apprentice carpenters, will be supporting the garden by sharing their knowledge, lending artefacts, and getting hands-on to help build some of the features.
Sean McGinley, Canal & River Trust Yorkshire & North East director said: “We're delighted to partner with Welcome to Yorkshire and offer our expertise and passion to help showcase the county's spectacular waterways to the world through this beautiful canal-themed garden.
Spending time on or by your local canal can make you feel happier and healthier, so we hope this garden will encourage more people to get out by Yorkshire's beautiful waterways to reap the benefits.”
The garden has been designed by Mark Gregory, whose 2018 Dales-inspired Welcome to Yorkshire garden won a Gold Medal, the coveted People's Choice Award and the Best Construction prize.
Garden Designer Mark Gregory said:
“I am really pleased that Canal & River Trust have come on board as they are the perfect fit for this year's Welcome to Yorkshire garden. It's so important to tell the story of just how vital the canal system was to this country, its engineering and sheer scale: the motorways of their time. And from that, to their use today as an essential part of the leisure and tourism industry and a valuable environmental resource.
This garden will showcase the importance of canals right across Yorkshire and beyond. It will be a big challenge for myself and the team, but so much fun. We can't wait to get started.”
Thousands of people will see the garden in person at the Chelsea Flower Show and millions more will see it on TV and in news coverage. Its aim is to showcase Yorkshire to the world and encourage people to visit and see the county's beauty for themselves first-hand.
Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said:
“It's great to have Canal & River Trust on board to help us make sure our 2019 RHS Chelsea garden is authentic and truly represents Yorkshire's stunning waterways. It's our tenth trip to the prestigious flower show as we celebrate the organisation's tenth year – so it's extra special.
Like us, the Trust shout loud and proud about the beauty which is abound on all our doorsteps here in Yorkshire and together we will show the world why a visit here is essential, with towns, cities, coastline, countryside and of course our beautiful canals just waiting to be explored.”
