MORE than 3,000 blooms and trails of greenery will fill a North Yorkshire stately home with perfume and colour during an annual flower festival – which this year will have a regal theme.

Castle Howard, in Ryedale, is to stage its festival from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26. The event will include unique displays created by local flower clubs and florists, as well as displays in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Castle Howard florist Kymm Queen will be joined by more than 60 volunteers from local flower clubs and florists, who will create their own unique displays. She will also work with floral designer Jo Purdy to create garlands of greenery intertwined with honeysuckle and clematis, as well as trees hung with Spanish moss, ivy and rose.

York Minster flower arrangers will create displays in red, white and blue in honour of the Queen’s birthday, while the florist who worked on the flowers at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s birthday celebrations, Janet Hayton, will also create some arrangements.

Janet is president of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) and will be creating a series of arrangements.

A suspended installation of flowers and book pages designed by Margaret Titman of Acomb Flower Club will add some floral drama to the historic home.

Visitors will also be able to see Castle Howard’s replica set of crown jewels on display in the Garden Hall.

Outside visitors can explore the parkland and gardens. There will also be garden tours, drop-in talks and strawberries and Pimm’s on the lawn.

The grounds are open from 10am and the house opens at 10.30am, last entry is at 4pm.