Floristry students from across the North of England are coming together to create their magic at Harrogate Spring Flower Show.
The Harrogate Spring Flower Show taking place from 24th-27th April at the Great Yorkshire Event Centre will have students from nine colleges will show their talents at the event.
They are taking part in a large-scale exhibition dedicated to ‘Swords and Sorcery: Fantasy Heroes’ in the show’s Floral Art Pavilion which will host the largest display by florists and flower arrangers in the country.
Bishop Burton College’s floral installation is inspired by the Lord of the Rings films and television series, adapted from the books by J.R.R Tolkien.
The installation includes recycled materials with students using tried and tested and contemporary techniques as well as new adaptations to create a captivating display.
Floristry lecturer Helen Smith said:
“The design will focus on good versus evil with the ring taking centre stage.
"There will be elements that reference Mordor and the darker side of the stories as well as the lighter side with its elfish magic and beauty from the shires, bringing middle earth to life.”
Merlin’s Magical Realm is the theme of Wigan and Leigh College’s installation, developed by Level 2 and Level 3 floristry students.
Lecturer Sarah Hughes said:
“Lotions, potions and spells will be represented through a floral display which will feature an array of flowers and foliage to create an enchanting colour scheme.”
The other colleges taking part in Swords and Sorcery are:
- Askham Bryan
- Shipley
- Doncaster
- Northumberland
- East Durham
- Southport
- Leeds City
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.
Visitors can enjoy creating their own floral masterpiece at free workshops and the opportunity to win some fantastic garden prizes and tickets to the Autumn Flower Show at Newby Hall in The Great Garden Giveaway.
Tickets are available now at a discounted rate of £23 per person until Tuesday 8 April from https://www.flowershow.org.uk/spring-show/

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