The new gardening season gets off to a flying start with HRH The Prince of Wales agreeing to become Patron of the North of England Horticultural Society. His Royal Highness is delighted to accept the invitation and will be the Patron for a term of five years.

His Royal Highness is renowned for his interest in gardening and horticulture and over recent years has created an organic garden at his Gloucestershire home Highgrove. His knowledge and passion of gardening makes him an ideal ambassador for the society.

The North of England Horticultural Society was established in 1911 with the purpose of organising and encouraging horticulture in the North of England. Since 1927 the NEHS has concentrated on staging annual spring and autumn shows. These shows have grown in size and popularity and are today known as the Harrogate Spring and Autumn Flower Shows. All profits from the shows are returned to the charity and used to promote and support horticulture in the North.

The Harrogate Flower Shows are two of the most prestigious, national shows in the gardening calendar. The shows attract visitors from across the nation to view the wonderful floral displays, seek advice on 'growing your own' and witness the latest in horticultural innovation.

Show Director Martin Fish says, "We are incredibly honoured that The Prince of Wales has agreed to become Patron of the North of England Horticultural Society. His love of gardening is well known and I hope that we as a leading gardening charity can echo His Royal Highness' enthusiasm and gardening ethos, not only at our shows but also when supporting horticulture in the North of England. As a horticulturist myself I’m fully aware of the positive benefits of gardening and I'm sure with the support of HRH The Prince of Wales we can get this message across to gardeners old and new."

For further information about the NEHS and Harrogate Flower Shows please visit the website, www.flowershow.org.uk.