A FARMER has come up with an unusual way for a town to try and beat off other competition in this summer's Europe in Bloom competition.

John Hemingway, from Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has set up his own business making hanging baskets.

But instead of lining them with expensive and rare moss, he is using sheep's wool as an experiment.

He said it was an environmentally-friendly alternative and that the wool insulates the plants.

Hundreds of the baskets will be used to decorate Harrogate and the nearby village of Darley when the Entente Florale judges make a visit later this summer

Mr Hemingway, who is a member of the Harrogate in Bloom committee, said: "Traditionally, moss has been used to line hanging baskets, but this is environmentally damaging to the upland peat bogs, where it is gathered.

"As an alternative to moss, I am now trialling using spare wool from my adult ewes and rams, which isn't sent for manufacturing.

"There are lots of good reasons for using this waste product. The wool insulates the plants and retains moisture well as it naturally contains lanolin oil. Unlike some mosses, the wool doesn't contain weed seeds, it looks natural and it is environmentally friendly. And, at the end of the summer the basket compost can be spread on the fields, as it has some fertiliser value."

He set up Harrogate Hanging Baskets in a diversification from farming and now grows 45,000 bedding plants every year.

Harrogate and Darley are Britain's only entrants in the competition, and judges will making a visit during July and August.