Blooming marvellous, the white rose of Yorkshire to turn yellow in 2014

For over 600 years the symbol of Yorkshire has been the white rose but that could change as gardeners across Yorkshire are to be encouraged to swap white roses for yellow in honour of the Tour de France starting in the county in 2014.

The Royal Horticultural Society, working in conjunction with Welcome to Yorkshire, the tourism agency which led the successful bid to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire, is producing a factsheet to help gardeners turn Yorkshire yellow next summer.

It contains over 80 different kinds of plants with yellow flowers or yellow foliage – including four varieties of yellow rose. There are also tips on when to plant them and how to maintain them to ensure on the weekend of the 5th and 6th July, when the world’s largest annual sporting event races through the county, will be at their blooming best.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said:

“The Grand Départ provides Yorkshire with a unique opportunity to showcase what the county has to offer and highlight the pride we have in our towns and villages. We understand the economic advantages of attractive places and with the help of the RHS we want to enhance the county, creating show stopping floral displays that will wow the crowds next summer.”

Ruth Evans, RHS Director of Education, Funding and Communities, said:

“In honour of this glorious event we’re absolutely delighted to be helping gardeners in Yorkshire celebrate by planting yellow flowers in gardens and public spaces across the region. The colour is synonymous with the Tour de France, so what better way to celebrate the race coming to the county than by drawing on the beauty of nature and making Yorkshire glow a gorgeous yellow while the world’s spotlight is on it.”

Welcome to Yorkshire and the RHS will be working with all local authorities, RHS Britain in Bloom groups, RHS Campaign for School Gardening schools and parish councils along the routes to share the dedicated factsheet and to encourage communities across Yorkshire to think yellow next summer when planting hanging baskets, bedding plants and perennials.

The Grand Départ of the Tour de France takes place in Yorkshire on the weekend of the 5th and the 6th July. The first stage races from Leeds to Harrogate via the Yorkshire Dales and the second stage race from York to Sheffield via Pennine Yorkshire. A third stage takes place on the 7th July racing from Cambridge to London.