Welldressing champions demonstrate art at Bakewell Show

RHS Welldressing champions Burton Closes Hall Care Home ignored the downpours to teach the age old ceremonial art to Bakewell Show visitors.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, staff from the home kept spirits up with the interactive welldressing stand in the Show’s horticultural marque.

Young visitors were invited to have a go at sticking flower petals into the clay design of the marque.

Mandy Vernon, Operations Director for the Hill Care Group, which manages Burton Closes Hall Care Home, demonstrated welldressing techniques for the youngsters.

She said: “Spirits remained high at the Bakewell Show, despite the bad weather.

“The young visitors to the Burton Closes Hall welldressing stand showed a lot of interest and enthusiasm, which was great to see.”

At the similarly wet weather affected RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, the team of Burton Closes Hall Care Home and Bakewell AJ Welldressing was named the Best Welldressing Exhibit.

Their design focused on the care home building, originally built in 1848 by architect August Pugin, known for his gothic revival style and work on the interior of the Palace of Westminster.

The home is a supporter of Bakewell’s annual welldressing and continues to raise awareness and generate interest in the ancient tradition.

Carl J D Fisher, home manager at Burton Closes Hall Care Home, on Haddon Road, said: “Following a hugely successful RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, where we won the inaugural welldressing competition with the amazing Bakewell AJ Welldressing team, we wanted to demonstrate and encourage others to participate in a tradition that has Derbyshire routes going back hundreds of years.

“The Bakewell Show may have been hit by bad weather but we kept spirts up with our interactive stall and had lots of interest from visitors – especially the youngsters, who really enjoyed getting stuck in and taking part.

“We’d like to thank the organisers for a great event in difficult conditions and I’m sure we’ll be back again next year.”