THE Tour De France, a rare orchid and a flock of Swaledale sheep will represent blooming Yorkshire at one of the world's most famous flower shows.

Welcome to Yorkshire is using its showcase garden in the Artisan section of the Chelsea Flower Show to celebrate the county, which is hosting the Grand Depart for the Tour De France next year.

Officials hope the new design will match last year's gold medal winning Brontes’ Yorkshire garden.

Designers Alistair Baldwin Associates from Bedale have pulled together what they hope will be an award winning creation to reflect the region in all its glory.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Le Jardin de Yorkshire will celebrate the historic hosting of the Grand Départ in Yorkshire in 2014 and the landscape of our beautiful county.

"It will set the scene for an unforgettable few days as Yorkshire’s natural beauty plays a starring role in one of the world’s most famous sporting events.

"Everyone is working really hard to ensure that Yorkshire’s medal success in London continues by bringing yet another gold medal back to the county.”

Alistair Baldwin said the design includes a wild meadow with a dry stone wall and rare Lady’s Slipper Orchids, framed in a Yorkshire Dale with sculpted Swaledale sheep and symbolic representations of cyclists whizzing through the scenery.

He added: “We are excited to have been commissioned to represent Welcome to Yorkshire at Chelsea this year and hope our garden captures the imagination and the attention of both the judges and the public alike.”

The Chelsea Flower show is staged from May 21 to 25.