Harrogate charity creates community garden at new Tesco superstoreAlan Titchmarsh helps Harrogate charity Horticap celebrate 40th birthday

Horticultural charity Horticap celebrated its 40th anniversary today.

The charity, located at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries on Harrogate‘s Otley Road, has helped adults with learning disabilities train in horticulture and outdoor skills since 1984.

Students learn garden maintenance, woodwork and social skills as part of their time at Horticap.

Pupils gathered for today’s birthday celebrations alongside TV gardener and Horticap patron Alan Titchmarsh and His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Jo Ropner.

Alan Titchmarsh with two Horticap students. Pic: Gerard Binks.

They were presented with awards as part of the special day.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones was also in attendance, as was the president of the National Allotment Society, Phil Gomersall, the Knaresborough town crier and Look North journalist Amanda Harper.

The charity is hosting a range of events throughout the year to celebrate the milestone, including a 40th anniversary garden display at both the Harrogate Spring Flower Show and the Great Yorkshire Show.

TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh. Pic: Gerard Binks.

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Alan Titchmarsh visits Harrogate’s Horticap today

Harrogate charity and garden centre Horticap welcomed gardening celebrity Alan Titchmarsh today to officially open its cafe area and to tour the new nature trail.

Horticap is based on Otley Road, across from RHS Harlow Carr, and provides training in horticulture and rural skills to adults with learning and other disabilities.

The TV presenter and patron of the charity was invited when the cafe and nature trail first opened last summer but was unable to attend due to covid restrictions so he performed the official opening today.

Mr Titchmarsh also spoke to students and staff about new projects underway at the centre.

 

Phil Airey, operations manager at Horticap, said:

“We don’t really make it public when he is coming because the place gets too busy, but he came down to speak to students and see the new cafe and shop.

“It was great, he really spent time with the students and spoke to them about the projects they’re working on.

“He said he had a lovely time and even visited Bettys to take some Fat Rascals home!”

Cutting the ribbon at Horticap today. Photograph: Horticap

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