A GARDEN inspired by the Yorkshire dales has been named as the best of the decade at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The Welcome to Yorkshire garden won the highest honour of gold, best construction award and the people’s choice award in 2018.

And the garden, created by Yorkshireman Mark Gregory, has now come out on top as the BBC RHS people’s choice award favourite from the last decade.

The Wensleydale inspired creation, complete drystone walls, flower-filled meadows, a fast-flowing beck and stone bothy, marked Mr Gregory’s 30th consecutive year at the show.

Mr Gregory, managing director 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.”

This year would have been his 100th garden at the show.

Ten gardens over ten years were shortlisted for the public to vote for their favourite – including three by.

Mr Gregory’s 2019 heritage and canal garden was also shortlisted, along with one by Matthew Wilson in 2016, which was a rural reflection on York Minster’s East Window.

James Mason, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire 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."

Carl Lis, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman, said: "We were delighted to support the stunning Welcome to Yorkshire RHS Chelsea Garden back in 2018, and are thrilled that Wensleydale was the inspiration for the BBC RHS People’s Choice Award from the last decade.

"Huge congratulations to the very talented Mark Gregory, his team, and all at Welcome to Yorkshire who contributed so much."