Fig. 1. The garden (c) Welcome to Yorkshire
York Minster’s Great East Window has inspired the design of a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 23 28 May 2016. Welcome to Yorkshire’s garden,‘God’s Own County – A Garden for Yorkshire’, designed by Matthew Wilson (former head of RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate) will showcase Yorkshire’s stunning scenery, iconic heritage, industries, and skilled tradespeople.
The garden highlights the beauty of the Great East Window, the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the UK, via planting and landscaping that has been designed to reflect the wider Yorkshire landscape as well as the minster itself. The planting celebrates the diversity of plants in Yorkshire gardens with a series of beds directly inspired by the colours of the stained glass in the window, while the furniture of a cathedral benches, pews and ornamental tombs are represented by timber seats and blocks of yew and stone. The materials used will reflect the Yorkshire landscape and will feature stone pillars carved by York Minster’s masons, as well as traditional stone and timber gargoyles and monoliths loaned from historic sites across Yorkshire.
Fig. 2. The stained glass panels being installed
The garden includes stained-glass panels designed and created by the York Glaziers Trust. The panels are made using the same mouth-blown glass being used in the restoration of York Minster’s Great East Window, in colours matched to the medieval tones. The Very Reverend Vivienne Faul, dean of York, said: ‘The East Window is a masterpiece in stone and glass that has inspired generations. We are delighted that its beauty is to be replicated in a garden that will showcase the spirit of Yorkshire.’
At Chelsea, Welcome to Yorkshire has previously won one gold medal, four silver medals, one silver gilt medal, and five People’s Choice Awards. For more information, and for videos on the creation of the garden, click here.
