A GARDEN inspired by the Yorkshire Dales has won a people's choice award for being the public's favourite garden in the last decade.

The Welcome to Yorkshire garden, inspired by the iconic Yorkshire Dales, won the highest honour of gold, Best Construction Award and the coveted People’s Choice Award back in 2018 at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Now, the garden, complete with cowpat and vegetable patch, received the most public votes and has come out on top as the BBC RHS People’s Choice Award favourite from the last decade.

Created by Yorkshireman Mark Gregory, the multi-award-winning garden marked Mark’s 30th consecutive year at the world-renowned show in 2018.

This year would have been Mr Gregory’s 100th garden at RHS Chelsea if not cancelled due to Covid-19.

Ten gardens over ten years were shortlisted for the public to vote for their favourite and three of the gardens were Welcome to Yorkshire gardens.

Garden designer Mark Gregory, MD of Landform Consultants, said: “What an honour it is to be awarded BBC RHS People’s Choice Garden of the Decade. I’ve built and designed gardens at Chelsea every year since 1988, which adds up to more than three years of my life.

"Not being there this year has been more than a little surreal but to win Garden of the Decade means the world. Chelsea is always a team effort and this award is for everyone involved, I’m so proud to have been a part of it and I hope this garden and the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire garden will inspire people to visit the home county of which I’m so proud.”

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason said: "It is some achievement to win the BBC RHS People’s Choice Award from the last decade for the Yorkshire garden, especially considering the high calibre of competition.

"Hopefully this will be a reminder of what a picturesque part of Yorkshire Wensleydale really is. I’m delighted for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Wensleydale Creamery and all the businesses in the Yorkshire Dales who showed great support for the garden and their continued love of such a spectacular part of the world, which once again deserves to be showcased far and wide.

"Mark Gregory is one of the most talented garden designers in the world and we are incredibly fortunate that he just happens to be a Yorkshireman too, who had two gardens in the top ten and the overall winner. I know that the Welcome to Yorkshire team loved showcasing the county at Chelsea to visitors from across the globe.

"A worthy win plus a great reminder and inspiration for visitors to explore this picture postcard part of the Dales, but for now following Government guidelines considering Covid-19.”

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman, Carl Lis, said the authority is delighted to support the stunning Welcome to Yorkshire RHS Chelsea Garden back in 2018, and is thrilled that Wensleydale was the inspiration for the BBC RHS People’s Choice Award from the Last Decade.

He said: "Huge congratulations to the very talented Mark Gregory, his team, and all at Welcome to Yorkshire who contributed so much. This shows the value of promoting Yorkshire on the biggest stages, showcasing to the world what we have to offer."