BEHIND some of the Great Yorkshire Show’s impressive displays of flowers, vegetables and livestock was a lot of hard work, with many exhibitors arriving early on Saturday to set up.

As Thursday saw the end of another successful event at the Harrogate venue, many exhibitors were packing up after nearly a week at the showground.

The Waterstone family, who run a farm off Malton Road near York, had first arrived at the showground on Saturday (July 11) in order to settle down their Ayrshire cows in the cattle sheds.

Nicola Waterstone explained the cows could be more easily unsettled than the bulls and needed to be calm in order to be seen at their best: “We’ve been here since Saturday because we need to settle them in, get them calm, then we get them clipped up and ready.”

She added: “There has been a record numbers in the Ayrshires section this year. To have the numbers we’ve had in the classes is very good for the breed.”

Also to arrive at the showground six days earlier to set up their vibrant exhibits were John Bottomley, from near Ilkley and Ernie Cawkwell, from Otley. They were representing the Northern Committee for the Dahlia Society and their colourful displays of the flowers won a gold medal for their display and were named Best Society Exhibit champion.

Horticap, a charity based at a plant nursery at Harrogate which trains adults with learning disabilities, brought with it a display to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

It included models of a Spitfire made by local sculptor Darrell Evans amongst ceramic poppies and plants grown at the nursery. The display had also featured at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the showground, where it had been spotted by one of the Churchill family, who were so impressed they arranged for the display to be transported and shown at Blenheim Palace.