An edible garden exploring the importance of food as a basic human right will be showcased at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show next month.
The show is the first of the year’s major gardening events in the UK and returns to Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 24-27 April.
Based on the principles of sustainability and food security, the 'Food is our Common Ground Garden' highlights the work of York Food Bank.
Their mission is to "meet the needs of those in their local community in times of crisis by providing practical help and access to high-quality advice, leading to improved circumstances and the hope of a brighter future."
The garden is the brainchild of garden designer Helena Glassup of Euphorbia Gardens, contractor Ian Calpin of Ian Calpin Landscape Services and Sam Glassup, facilities manager for Clifton Moor and Stirling Park industrial estates.
At the heart of the design is the vision of a community garden that not only provides nourishment but also sustains.
The garden features a harmonious blend of fruiting trees, shrubs, and herbs—plants that are both beautiful and functional, with food production as the key selection criterion.
Helena Glassup said:
“Our garden serves as a vision of hope—demonstrating how we can come together as a community to nurture both the land and each other.
“The garden explores the crucial link between short-term food relief and long-term food security. We hope to demonstrate that by learning to grow their own food, individuals and communities can reduce dependence on emergency support, paving the way for a healthier, more food-secure future.
"Aside from this, social gardening offers many other benefits, strengthening community bonds, promoting well-being, and fostering resilience and sustainability.”
The planting theme creates a vibrant, productive edible garden that encourages community interaction, with trees and shrubs providing seasonal structure and shade while offering nourishment throughout the growing season.
A variety of culinary herbs are carefully positioned for ease of harvest, allowing visitors to actively engage with the garden.
Edible perennials provide year-round interest and productivity, reducing the need for annual replanting and promoting a more sustainable approach to food production—one that remains both beautiful and functional.
Wherever possible, materials for the garden will be reclaimed or upcycled from projects on Clifton Moor, reducing the environmental impact of the hard landscaping.
Harrogate Spring Flower Show
The garden is part of the Show Gardens feature at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show.
Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society (NEHS), the Harrogate Spring Flower show attracts over 40,000 visitors each year.
Highlights for 2025 include the spectacular Floral Hall featuring seasonal displays of stunning spring blooms, inspiring Show Gardens and Creative Borders and the biggest exhibition of creative floral art in the UK.
Offering inspiration for everyone, visitors to the show can also be immersed in everything from growing for the non-green fingered to cooking up a storm with homegrown produce in a host of fantastic talks and demonstrations by expert speakers and creators across four exciting live stages.
Tickets are available now at a discounted rate of £23 per person until Tuesday 8th April from https://www.flowershow.org.uk/spring-show/ or £28 after this time.
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