Historic house honours County Durham with a flower festival, September 9-11
More than 100 volunteer florists will transform Ushaw Historic House into a beautiful floral walking tour celebrating the local history of County Durham for the Ushaw Flower Fest 2022.
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens near Durham City has teamed up with flower arrangers, florists, community groups, charities, churches and businesses. They will create 35 bespoke flower arrangements that tell inspirational stories about Durham.
Co-ordinator Ady Davis said: “Ushaw Flower Fest 2022 is returning for its first run since the Covid-19 pandemic. Last time we marked the 450th anniversary of our foundation story. This year we wanted to pay a special tribute to County Durham, in partnership with people and organisations that share our passion and pride in the place we call home.”
Ushaw Flower Fest 2022 – A celebration of Durham
Each of the arrangements is an individual celebration of Durham. They tell stories from the county’s past and present, from community campaigning and inspirational women to mining heritage and service in armed conflict.
Charity Cheesy Waffles Project is introducing adults and young people with disabilities and additional needs to flower arranging as part of its Wider World program.
Angela Kelly, 23, a British Army veteran, works with Finchale Group. A registered charity and training provider, Finchale Group supports service leavers and military veterans to manage resettlement into society and provides routes to employment and housing.
Angela, a former warrant officer second class, is leading Durham military veterans to arrange flowers for Ushaw’s memorial chapels. They commemorate the service of former Ushaw priests and chaplains that died in World War I and II.
Hidden Histories – by Pam Oliver
St Cuthbert’s Chapel will be decorated in honour of Durham miners who lost their lives in industrial accidents. A complete set of banners from pit communities, loaned from Beamish Museum and community banner groups, will be on display.
Pam Oliver, 71, grew up in East Stanley, around a mile from the West Stanley colliery. A retired florist, Pam has crafted Hidden Histories, a personal tribute to victims of the West Stanley pit disaster of 1909, in which 168 men died. Pam lost relatives in the disaster and her arrangement will sit on the main altar.
She said: “My father’s elder brothers and cousin died. It was never mentioned when I was growing up. There is now little evidence of what happened there and physical signs of coal mining have all but vanished from the area. The grief too was hidden in people’s hearts. We must remember those who lost their lives. It is part of our history, it’s a part of us.”
Ushaw Flower Fest 2022 – Other volunteer arrangers
- The 60th anniversary of Durham Flower Club, including an exclusive display by Margaret Sykes, the club’s longest-serving active member.
- Durham Federation of Women’s Institutes’ arrangement ‘Inspiring Women in Co. Durham’. It chronicles the fun, friendship and campaigns of more than 70 WI’s in the county.
- Durham Division Girl Guiding’s arrangement, inspired by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It features decorative plant pots that symbolise the ‘Guiding Trefoil’ or three ‘leaves’ of the guiding promise.
Florists’ masterclasses
There will also be appearances and masterclass demonstrations by internationally acclaimed floral designers Jonathan Moseley and Andrew Grisewood.
- September 9: Jonathan Moseley’s Overture to Autumn.
- September 10: Andrew Grisewood Autumn Palette.
Tickets cost from £15 to £25 and both are from 7pm to 10pm.
For children, there will be a garden trail with ecological artist Maggie Parker, making decorative recycled flowerpots.
Ady said: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to see Ushaw transformed through the colour, beauty and artistry of floral design, and to showcasing Durham’s passionate people and their stories; which make this county such a wonderful place to live, work and visit.”
Ushaw Flower Fest 2022 sponsors include Dere Street Homes, Jonathan Elliot Plumbing and Heating, Purcell Architecture, Circe Flower Co, Sue O’Brien Floral Designer, Forget Me Not Flower Designers and Flower School, Houghall College, Elizabeth Kelly School of Floristry, Daisy Chain Florist, Marinel Glass, Q Commercial Limited, A P Electrical Contractors and Wharton Landscapes.
Entry is included in the price of admission and is free for Ushaw annual pass holders. For more information, visit www.ushaw.org. Read my review of the gardens here.
