NINE bouquets have been placed around the region to mark each decade of the Queen’s life.

The flowers were placed by members of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies [NAFAS] to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, which she celebrated last month.

Bouquets were left at Durham Cathedral, The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, Alnwick Garden, Gibside, Hexham Abbey, Lanercost Priory, Preston Park, Seaton Delaval Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle.

The initiative was done as part of National Flower Arranging Day and NAFAS members in Durham celebrated by leaving small posies, known as “lonely bouquets”, in the streets as a random act of kindness to a stranger.

Helena Johnson, who is a volunteer flower arranger at Durham Cathedral, said: “We have placed lonely bouquets in and around the cathedral as well as on top of the tower for several years now and we are pleased to be able to repeat this tradition and combine it with the Queen’s special 90th birthday bouquet.

“Flower arrangements mean a huge amount to people when you think about when we use them: to celebrate, to mourn, to commemorate. Flower arrangements and bouquets are an integral part of our culture and that is part of what we celebrate on this day.”

The bouquet left at Durham Cathedral was designed by Wendy Smith.