We talk about the wonderful work of our volunteers, but this doesn’t even relate to the additional support that we get from the local community and businesses around us.

We have been working with HSBC Customer Services and this year a team of nine came in to spend their volunteering day at Harewood.

As the House undergoes its transformation for Christmas, it’s all hands to the deck. The team split into two, with half spending time icing some of the gingerbread people who will form a display of 500+ in the Below Stairs kitchen, and the other half taking to the ground in the Walled Garden and turning over the soil for the next stage of planting.

Sarah Kirk, volunteer coordinator, said “We were delighted to get the additional support from the HSBC volunteers, they have definitely provided a boost to our Christmas activity. There is always such a positive input from volunteers and hopefully they got something back in return, it was highly amusing to see Artistic Director Simon Costin judging their creative icing on the day.”

Carol Harper, from HSBC Customer Service, said, “We work as a team in an office, and it’s great that the Bank provides us with the opportunity to spend the day working as a team for the benefit of the community.

“It’s something the Bank has been passionate about for some years now. We go out to a charity and spend the day doing something that’s quite often outside of our own comfort zone, but will be a great help to them. Either in doing a job that might have been on a back burner, or something that’s going to be time consuming for one or two volunteers to complete. We go back to the office with a feeling of accomplishment.”

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Christmas means so many different things to different people. In part of a series of Behind the Scenes blogs, we asked the staff at the Harewood House Trust to tell us about their Christmas.

Christine Wardle is Head of Development, looking after Harewood Members and working with donors and corporate sponsorship amongst other things…

1. What is your earliest Christmas memory?
My earliest Christmas memory is of the smell of holly, wreaths and Christmas decorations, when I lived in a flower shop. We always have a real tree and real holly and mistletoe decorations. Always have a poinsettia. None of your plastic rubbish!

2. Do you have any specific Christmas traditions?
We have lots of birthdays around Christmas, on 21st, 25th and 26th December, so that’s a big influence on what we do. I love the Christmas shop in Salzburg and we have a selection of decorative eggs from there.

3. Which period from history would you have liked to celebrate Christmas in?
Not so much a period – more a place. Austria or Switzerland where it actually looks like Christmas is supposed to, but with none of the commercialisation.

4. What’s the piece of music that gets you in the festive mood?
Ooh lots of pieces of music. Sleigh Ride comes to mind. All the school bands play it.

5. What’s the nicest gift that someone has offered you / you have given?
Nicest gift? Poinsettia. Can’t start Christmas without one.#

Booking recommended for Christmas at Harewood on www.harewood.org 

Gordon is a recovering soldier, stationed at the convalescent hospital set up within the House.

A young man from the Scottish Highlands, he, like many of the soldiers at Harewood, had never left his village until leaving to fight. War opened his eyes to awful terrors, but it also broadened his horizons and introduced him to new things.

Gordon’s injuries are worryingly serious when he first arrives, but thanks to the care he receives, and the healing atmosphere at Harewood, he makes a miraculous physical recovery. Whilst recovering, Gordon spends much of his time taking walks in the gardens, where he meets Olivia, a servant girl from the House.

Visit Seeds of Hope in the Bothy, Walled Garden and Servant’s Hall, Below Stairs, and learn more about the characters at Harewood 100 years ago. Exhibition closes Sunday 4 November.

Mr Leonard Leathley is the Head Gardener at Harewood.

A brilliant man with a deep understanding of agriculture and nature, he is much respected by those who work under him.

As war progresses, he becomes an even greater taskmaster, with the focus on feeding the troops and the Home Front becoming more and more of a priority.

Like John, he has family fighting in the war – his two sons Tobias and Ernest. The thought of losing them has led Mr Leathley to become obsessed with his new war-time responsibilities – to turn the once ornamental and decorative gardens of Harewood into a hive of food production and cultivation.

Seeds of Hope continues in the Walled Garden until Sunday 4 November.

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The greatest challenge to Mr Leathley’s order comes from a developing social revolution – women working the land. This threat is epitomised by Rose, a lively mother from the village who comes to work in the gardens, responding to a direct appeal from Lady Harewood. Rose faces many challenges from Mr Leathley, who seriously underestimates her strength and willpower.

Rose is determined to prove him wrong, working hard to sow more seeds, grow more plants and harvest more crops than her male counterparts.

Eventually, Mr Leathley is forced to swallow his pride and accept that women are just as good at gardening as men.

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