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Harewood House: Himalayan garden gets Titchmarsh seal of approval
An exotic Himalayan garden has been hailed one of Yorkshire's new treasures – by none other than gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh.
And in keeping with the monsoon climate of the Himalayas, the heavens opened as the redeveloped garden was officially launched at Harewood House.
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Guests from the Leeds Nepalese community were at the opening which saw Alan cut the ribbon with a Gurkha's traditional weapon – an 18-inch long curved knife known as the kukri.
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Alan, who was born and bred in Ilkley, said he was honoured to officially launch the spot as Harewood House has a special place in his heart.
"It's a few years since I was here. It was part of our Sunday run-out. We used to go out in a little mini van, my sister and I sat in the back. We used to go for a run up the Dales and we often used to come to Harewood."
All the flowers chosen for the garden were selected to give a feeling of disappearing into the Himalayas along with features like new paths, a bridge over the beck, and a walk-through gorge.
Alan said: "It's sensational, I think it's one of Yorkshire's greatest new treasures. There's plants from Nepal and the Himalayas in general, in a little sheltered valley which is part of Harewood House gardens sheltered from the soil."
The new garden is a redevelopment of the former Rock Garden, created in the early 1930s by the sixth Earl of Harewood and his wife, HRH Princess Mary. They shared a fondness for plants from temperate Asia.
Now renamed the Harewood Himalayan Garden, the three-acre sunken glade, situated below 'Capability' Brown's majestic lake, has been developed and replanted.
Asha Banta, 25, who's from the Leeds Nepalese (Gurkha) Community said: "We're very happy to be part of the opening day today. It's a beautiful garden - it represents Nepalese tradition with its different types of flowers."
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
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