The Great Yorkshire Showground and Harrogate Caravan Park have both scooped gold in Yorkshire in Bloom.

The showground and the onsite caravan park took the highest accolade in the prestigious competition thanks to hard work by all areas of the business – from office staff to the onsite facilities team.

Yorkshire Agricultural Society Chief Executive Nigel Pulling said: “The whole team work hard throughout the year to ensure the showground looks stunning for visitors. Entering into the Yorkshire in Bloom competition gave us that extra focus and staff from all areas of the business from reception to facilities, really went that extra mile to ensure we took home Gold.

“We are proud to be recognised for our efforts in ensuring the showground and its businesses are of the highest standard for all our visitors.”

Harrogate Caravan Park won the Gold Award and Category Winner in Caravan, Camping and Chalet Parks.

The site had been vacant for several years before Harrogate Caravan Park opened in 2014 following a full refurbishment. Investment in the site has ensured continuous improvement and feedback from customers is paramount.

Judges said: “The site is clean, tidy and maintains a good balance between looking attractive, being appropriately functional, and having good environmental credentials.

“This is an excellent entry, so keeping up the good work is very important!”

The Great Yorkshire Showground won Gold Award and Joint Category Winner in the large Business Premises category.

Judges noted that the showground features a wide range of areas including woodland and wildlife areas, ponds, a school garden, an orchard and functional areas such as the show ring. There’s also the onsite businesses including the

Regional Agricultural Centre comprising offices, Fodder, Pavilions of Harrogate and Yorkshire Event Centre which all have adjacent beds and borders.

Judges also noted the environmental sustainability which is a key theme of the showground with use of grey water in some buildings, recycling and encouraging wildlife to name but a few.

Judges said: “The grounds are used throughout the year for educational purposes and the organisation has good links with neighbouring community action groups. They have also used in Bloom as a successful tool to bring together staff from across their site to work on a project to tidy up and replant an area of the showground.”