RELEASE DATE: 1 March 2017
School children help collect 2 tonnes of coastal pebbles
for Welcome to Yorkshire RHS Chelsea garden
Children from Flamborough Primary school have been helping Welcome to Yorkshire
start work on their most ambitious Chelsea show garden yet.
They’ve been collecting pebbles from a Yorkshire beach which will be taken down to
London to recreate a genuine slice of the Yorkshire coast in the heart of the Capital.
The collection at Flamborough South Landing marks the official start of preparations
for the 2017 garden, named “Welcome to Yorkshire”.
Up to 2 tonnes of the unique pebbles found near Flamborough head are being
borrowed* from South Landing, one of the very locations that inspired this year’s
garden.
The chalk pebbles are distinct as many have neat, cylindrical holes in them made by
piddocks. The small mussel like sea creatures live on the lower shore and burrow
into soft rocks, like chalk.
Experts from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s “Living Seas Centre” will be on hand to
explain more about the area to the pupils and emphasise the need for the pebbles to
be carefully checked for tiny sea creatures during the collection.
Garden Designer Tracy Foster said: “The pebbles found on the beach at
Flamborough are so unique that there’s really no way to replicate them. To make this
year’s Welcome to Yorkshire Chelsea Show Garden truly authentic, and as
wonderful as the coastline that inspired it, the best way is to literally take some
genuine pieces of Yorkshire down to London.”
Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Sir Gary Verity said: “This is a
wonderful way to get the community involved in our garden and for the children to
learn more about our fantastic coastline. We’re hugely grateful to Flamborough
Primary school for their help and to Natural England and East Riding Council for
allowing us to borrow the pebbles so we can show the true beauty of Yorkshire to the
world. We promise to take good care of them.”
Anthony Hurd, manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Centre said:
“The Yorkshire coast is truly spectacular and recognised internationally for its wildlife
and marine environment. It will be amazing to see a small corner of Yorkshire
shoreline brought to life in the heart of London, and we’re delighted that the garden
build team have sought permission and will ensure the pebbles will be returned to
the very same beach afterwards, where visitors can enjoy some of the best rock
pooling around!”
At Chelsea, Welcome to Yorkshire has previously won a Gold Medal, five Silver
Medals, one Silver Gilt Medal and six People’s Choice Awards.
*All pebbles will be returned to the same site in Flamborough on conclusion of the
RHS Chelsea show.
Permission has been sought from Natural England, East Riding Council, The Crown
Estate, and the Marine Management Organisation.
We are incredibly grateful for the advice provided by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and
the RNLI.
- ENDS Images: AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM MIDDAY
Editors’ Notes:

Welcome to Yorkshire is the official destination management organisation for
Yorkshire, working to grow the county’s visitor economy.

Welcome to Yorkshire is a not-for-profit membership organisation, funded in
part by grants, sponsorship and Welcome to Yorkshire members. All money
raised is reinvested directly back into promoting Yorkshire.

Key facts include:

Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £7 billion annually

The county’s tourism and hospitality industry employs almost a quarter of
a million people
For more news and a free image bank http://www.yorkshire.com/mediacentre
This year’s garden is designed by Chelsea gold medal winner Tracy Foster
http://www.tracyfostergardendesign.co.uk
The “Welcome to Yorkshire” garden is being built by Mark Gregory from Landform
Consultants who has won 23 RHS gold medals. http://landformconsultants.co.uk/
Stone work in the garden is being undertaken by Richard Clegg who was awarded a Chelsea
Gold Medal in 2012 and a Silver Gilt 2015 http://richardclegg.co.uk
For further information, contact:
Alice Bailey - Senior Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Direct: 0113 322 3578
Mobile: 07711 221068
If Alice is unavailable, please try:
Marie Christopher – Director of Communications
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: 0113 322 3537
Mobile: 07557 157 034