Holker garden Festival has, for the last 24 years been one of the highlights of the South Lakeland calendar.
Known as the ‘Chelsea of the North’, the horticultural extravaganza has always attracted thousands of visitors to the estate to sample first -hand the very best in gardens, countryside and food. Show gardens, floral marquees, botanical brilliance and some famous names have adorned the festival over the years ensuring its rightful place as one of the regions’ best loved and best attended events.
After 24 wonderful years, the estates board of directors have made the difficult decision to bring the festival to a close, making this year’s spectacular the final Holker Garden Festival.
The board will now be looking at ways to refresh the annual events program with something fresh and vibrant to replace the festival with. Although it’s sad to see the end of such a wonderful event, it’s also an exciting time, with lots of new opportunities to create and stage something different.
A major element in bringing the curtain down on the festival is the rise in popularity of other garden festivals throughout the country. Because of the sheer amount of events taking place, traders are stretched and can’t always commit. Another major festival just 3 days after Holker’s (held at Chatsworth) is also a contributing factor.
But lovers of horticulture needn’t have cause for concern. Whatever event is chosen as a replacement, be it food or music, will always have a horticultural element running through it.
Holker Hall and Gardens is always a wonderful place to visit, and although the garden festival will be missed, we can’t wait to see what’ll be in its place next year.
