21-05-2025
North Yorkshire stately hall wins gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
A North Yorkshire hall has won a prestigious gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for its plant display.
Newby Hall's woodland-themed display, which highlights some of the most 'eye-catching and unusual' varieties of Cornus, was given the top award by RHS judges.
This was the hall's first-ever entry at the world's famous horticultural event.
The display was inspired by Newby Hall's renowned National Plant Collection of Cornus, which are 'beautiful' flowering dogwood trees and shrubs that boast colourful 'flowers' in April, May, and June.
Newby Hall's Lucinda Compton and Lawrence Wright with its prestigious gold medal awarded at its first ever Chelsea Show (Image: Newby Hall)
The RHS Chelsea display was 'carefully designed' by Newby Hall's head gardener, Lawrence Wright, in collaboration with owners Richard and Lucinda Compton, who now curate the collection.
Mr Wright said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won a gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
"To be judged as being amongst the best of the best in the horticultural world is incredible, putting Newby Hall's plant collection firmly on the national and international map.
"Thank you to all of our team for their hard work in helping us prepare for this.
Plant Heritage president Alan Titchmarsh with Lucinda Compton and Lawrence Wright of Newby Hall (Image: Newby Hall)
"We are now really looking forward to showing the thousands of show visitors the wonder of these beautiful plants and encouraging them to visit Newby Hall in person."
Newby Hall's exhibit forms a key part of Plant Heritage's display within the Floral Marquee at RHS Chelsea, which celebrates the beauty of the National Plant Collections.
It was officially opened by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, who is president of Plant Heritage, which champions and conserves garden plants.
Newby Hall's Cornus collection is one of the UK's 'most extensive', comprising more than 100 individual specimens, 48 cultivars, and 25 species.
It was originally started in 1990 by Robin Compton, a passionate horticulturist and former president of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens – now known as Plant Heritage.
The very first Cornus kousa was planted by his father, Major Edward Compton, in 1937, sparking a passion that would eventually grow into this nationally recognised collection.
Richard and Lucinda's daughter, Sasha Compton, who is an established artist and designer, has been painting the Cornus display at the show, while Jake Sutcliffe Studio helped build the display.
Newby Hall's famous gardens are a hailed a 'jewel of the Yorkshire countryside', and are frequently featured in television productions such as Peaky Blinders and Victoria.
The garden boasts 14 stunning 'rooms', two heritage orchards, and one of the UK's longest double herbaceous borders.
Other highlights include a Rose Garden at its fragrant peak in June, an Autumn Garden filled with Dahlias and more than 80 different varieties of Salvia, and an Edwardian Rock Garden nearing the end of major restoration which is due to be complete in spring 2026.
This September, Newby Hall will also host the popular Harrogate Autumn Flower Show from September 19 to 21.
Newby Hall & Gardens are open to the public from April to September, welcoming more than 120,000 visitors annually.
