HOLKER Garden Festival’s reputation as the ‘Chelsea of the North’ keeps on growing as a record number of competitors and visitors flocked to the 19th annual event.

Up to 30,000 garden lovers weaved their way through Modernist pavilions, slate water features and shimm-ering pools over the three days.

As temperatures soared, judges made their way around the showfield awarding an unprecedented number of prizes to local gardeners.

Flying the flag for North Yorkshire was Ingleton landscape gardening firm Greenbelt Landscapes which scooped the prestigious best show garden title.

Its Modernist 1920s-style pavilion with silver, purple and white plants and black dyed water wowed chief judge Rae Beckwith.

Show chair, Lady Cavendish of Holker Hall, presented the prize to Belinda and Matthew Belt and their designer Paul Richards and applauded them for creating an urban-style garden in a traditional setting.

“We’d never created a show garden before, so to win was fantastic, we’re delighted. We worked solidly for ten days to install it,” said Mrs Belt.

“From dying the water to create the right reflection to our Le Corbusier repro lounger we’ve given absolute attention to detail to create a cool, Modernist feel.”

Newcomers Tom and Abi Attwood, of Halecat Nurseries, also won a host of awards for their horticultural display, including best in show and Lady Cavendish awards.

Their transformation of Halecat into a thriving garden plant business is drawing national attention, as guest of honour and Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein made a bee-line to congratulate Mr Attwood.

Alongside the horticultural displays, the festival also hosted horse displays in the show-ring while a jazz band entertained they crowds as they munched on strawberries and cream.

Lord Cavendish said the 19th show had been a huge success and said while comparisons to Chelsea were kind, Holker had its own identity.

“Entries grow in standard each year and many of our competitors also show at Chelsea but first and foremost the festival is for local people and for the local economy,” he said.

“It’s been a wonderful festival so far, helped by the weather, and I was delighted that such a modern design won the show-garden award.”

Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein mingled among the crowds and chatted to star struck fans as the festival’s guest of honour for the second year running.

The Salford-born TV star livened up the horticultural tent as she toured winning stands and posed for photographs.

On Saturday she held a lecture on cottage gardens and also hosted a Gardener’s Question Time-style question and answer session.

She was particularly impressed with the display by Tom and Abi’s Garden Plants of Halecat Nurseries and spent time chatting to 29-year-old Mr Attwood.

“I was very keen to see him and impressed by the variety of the things they’ve grown like Lychnis White Robbin and Trifoliun – and they’re both so young so it’s brilliant.

"I just love the whole atmosphere [at Holker], it’s so relaxed and the quality of exhibitors always blows me away.

"It’s quite an achievement by Lord and Lady Cavendish and it’s genuinely a festival for everybody.”