We are looking forward to this weekend’s Harrogate Autumn Flower Show which we have been helping to promote alongside the show organisers.
We interviewed young florist Charlotte Foster-Lill, from Malton, who is taking on two floral challenges at Newby Hall where the show is being staged, 13-15 September.
The former Askham Bryan College student entered the Spring Flower Show for the first time last year and won Best in Show after taking first place in the Vivienne Westwood category.
Charlotte created a dress in the style of fashion icon Westwood using flowers and tartan. The creation was topped with a big mohawk made with dried flowers in a nod to the punk era.
She said: “It was massive to win Best in Show. It was such a great opportunity to get my foot in the door with the support of Askham Bryan and the show itself.”
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is organised by the North of England Horticultural Society (NEHS) which partners with Yorkshire colleges to give opportunities to florist students. As well as Askham Bryan, NEHS is supporting Shipley College and Doncaster College at this year’s show.
Charlotte, who completed Level 2 in Floristry at Askham Bryan after a degree in fine art, has since gone on to launch her own business, Thistle and Thorne.
Her challenges this year are to dress the Tapestry Room at Newby Hall using only artificial and dried flowers because of its priceless Gobelins tapestries dating from 1763. Her second challenge involves adorning the hall’s front lawn with plants and fresh flowers.
Charlotte said: “I live on our family farm where there is access to woods for foliage and I’m growing my own plants from seed. The Tapestry Room is stunning so I’m creating a theme that sits with that. The sundial on the front lawn will be an explosion of colour to reflect autumn.”
Nick Smith, director of Harrogate Flower Shows, said: “Charlotte is testament to the emerging talent there is in the world of floristry. Our partnership with local colleges helps further the students’ learning and gives them a platform to showcase their skills and techniques in what will hopefully become their chosen careers.”
Taking centre stage at this year’s Harrogate Autumn Flower Show will be magnificent floral displays, delicious produce, expert gardening advice and fiercely contested competitions, including for giant fruit and veg.
Billed as an inspiration for gardeners of all abilities, visitors to the show can also enjoy Newby Hall’s award-winning gardens, live talks and cookery demonstrations, great garden shopping and stunning floral art installations within historic Newby Hall itself.
The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is one of two flower shows hosted annually by the NEHS, with the Spring Flower Show taking place in Harrogate in April. Last year’s Autumn Flower Show committed over £163,000 in support and promotion of the work of specialist societies and groups, and charitable horticultural organisations.
Tickets are £28per person available online from https://www.flowershow.org.uk/
Admission includes access to Newby’s gardens which feature some of Europe’s biggest herbaceous flower borders, 15 stunning garden ‘rooms’ and family adventure garden.
