Gardeners – grab some free seeds and prepare to Plant The City Yellow to welcome the Tour de France.
Aldby Field Nurseries, based at Sand Hutton, near York, has donated 1,500 packs of French marigold seeds, compost, a seed tray and instructions, so it couldn’t be easier.
All residents have to do is collect, plant and create their own a sunny display to greet the cyclists on the Grand Départ on July 6.
It’s all connected to the York: Be A Part Of It arts and cultural festival organised by City of York Council to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de France.
The packs can be collected from:
- Haxby Library on Friday 28 March from 12 noon to 6pm
- Strensall Library on Monday 31 March from 2-5pm
- Fulford Library on Tuesday 1 April from 2-5pm
- Bishopthorpe Library on Wednesday 2 April from 2-5pm
- Tang Hall Library on Monday 7 April from 12 noon to 7pm.
Plants mean prizes
Rewards are up for grabs for the finest display.
“Whether it’s a stunning window box, a bike-shaped pattern of plants in the front garden or even a bicycle basket of blooms, green-fingered participants should know that plants mean prizes, thanks to a city-wide competition,” said Cllr Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure and tourism.
To enter email [email protected] with your name, address, phone number and a few photos of your display as well as which category you wish to enter…
- Best-dressed house
- Best dressed B&B or hotel
- Best school display
- Best community display
- Best street displays
- Best residential street
- Best parade of shops
Your entry must be submitted by June 15, after which date members of the Ancient Society of York Florists will be out and about judging the winners.
Category winners will be given a planted-up hanging basket, second prize winners will receive a large tray of bedding plants and third prizes will be a smaller tray of mixed bedding.