We wanted to create something that felt alive and evolving, flowers have this incredible ability to evoke emotion and memory. Here at Harewood, we had the opportunity to respond to the space, its history, its light, its atmosphere, and let that guide the designs.”
Sarah Richardson from Leafy Couture
Leafy worked with a huge number of talented florists and floral artists to bring this event together. Innovatively, the installation included floral projections from Imitating the dog, these featured in Harewood’s beautiful music room, the last room on the state floor route, leaving visitors with a lasting impression on how modern floristry can be interpreted.
For Harewood, the event marked a continuation of its commitment to connecting people with nature and creativity, as well as celebrating the seasons. By opening its doors to floral artists and inviting visitors to experience the Trust in a new way, Harewood in Bloom highlighted the evolving role of heritage spaces in contemporary culture.
“This weekend has been about celebrating the relationship between people, place, and nature,” Zoë Hughes, Head of Programming said, “Flowers are a universal language. They bring people together, spark curiosity, and create moments of joy. Seeing visitors explore the house and grounds through this lens has been incredibly special and something we are excited to repeat.”
An event filled with community spirit
Within the event we were also thrilled to work with a number of partners including some of our community groups who with the support of our dedicated volunteers created stunning handmade paper flowers which bought to life the main library fireplaces with bright colours and fresh new approach to thinking about how floral creativity can be used in different ways. The community flowers were the result of the hard work of Little Hiccups and Leeds Autism Services.
A spokesperson from Little Hiccups, said
“The flowers themselves are a burst of colour—vibrant pinks, oranges, and purples—that stand out brilliantly against the historic backdrop of Harewood’s interiors. Each petal and stem represents a moment of focus and togetherness from our craft sessions… Seeing them now, beautifully arranged and draped over the grand fireplaces of the House, is a testament to the creativity and spirit of our wonderful Little Hiccups families.”
These stunning installations were generously The ASAMAA Charitable Trust. We are also grateful to G F Smith who kindly supported the beautiful paper used to craft the flowers.
These creations, and indeed the entire Harewood in Bloom event could not have taken place without the wonderful support of Harewoods talented volunteer team. From supporting with the creation of paper flowers, to running craft activities over the weekend, to stewarding the installations this event would not have been what it was without them!
Across the weekend guests also enjoyed ‘Little Gardeners’ seed planting for youngsters, talks on Harewood’s iconic blue poppy (which sadly, as yet has not made its annual appearance), as well as demonstrations and workshops across the weekend.
Workshops included classes taught by the wonderfully talented Nay Bellamy who held a sold out Botanical Floral Painting workshop, and Davinder Madaher who held a children’s floral collage and painting workshop.
As the weekend drew to a close, there was a lingering sense that Harewood in Bloom has offered something truly memorable. It was not just about the flowers themselves, but about the stories they told and the connections they inspired. The interplay between heritage and contemporary design, between structured gardens and wild creativity, left a lasting impression on all who attended.
The whole Harewood House team would like to say a huge thank you to Sarah and the Leafy team for their vision and hard work in brining this to life!
Looking ahead, events like this continue to position Harewood as a space where tradition and innovation can meet.
For those who visited, the images and scents of the weekend will no doubt linger. They are a reminder of the quiet power of flowers to transform, uplift, and connect us.
