Harewood gardens in shortlist

Harewood gardens are in shortlist for top awards. Picture Tony Johnson

Decided by a public vote, the Award, sponsored by world-famous auction house Christie’s, recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal.

The 100 acres of gardens at Harewood include the formal, intricately designed Italian parterre on the Terrace; the Himalayan Garden that takes visitors to mountains on the other side of the world; the naturalistic planting of the lakeside woodlands; and the inviting Walled Garden, used now to grow produce and for innovative, immersive exhibitions.

Ben Cowell, Historic Houses Director General, said: “We are a nation of garden lovers. The experience of lockdown has only made us appreciate the wonders of the garden even more.

“This is true whether we are lucky enough to tend a garden of our own, or simply enjoy visiting professionally maintained gardens to appreciate the work of talented gardening teams.

“Every year, we hold a vote in a competition to find the UK’s greatest garden. The eight gardens in our shortlist represent the very finest gardens open to the public across the country.”

In 2020 Harewood’s gardens became even more important, providing a vital source of respite for local communities during the coronavirus restrictions.

Jane Marriott, Harewood House Trust Director said: “Visitors enthusiastically returned when the gardens were re-opened in July 2020, with the wide open spaces allowing families and friends to meet safely, and the beauty of the surroundings promoting peace and wellbeing for all.

“It brought a lot of joy for us at Harewood, to be able to provide a space for people to come together during such difficult times.

“We do hope that our wonderful gardens brought some relief, and that visitors will vote for us for Garden of the Year.”

Vote for Harewood to win the Garden of the Year Award at https://www.historichouses.org/garden-of-the-year/vote-for-garden-of-the-year/.

Voting closes on Thursday September 30 and the winner announced in November.

Although historic Head Gardener Trevor Nicholson, who has been at Harewood for over 25 years, said that gardening techniques look to the future.

He added: “Our vegetable plots have been converted to a ‘no-dig’ cultivation system to conserve soil ecology, save water and reduce the carbon footprint.

“Plants for pollinators are interspersed among organically-grown crops, to enrich the biodiversity of the garden, and plant material is recycled into compost, used throughout the gardens as mulch and soil conditioner.”