Public park scoops Yorkshire-wide garden award

The collection of cacti and exotic plants in the greenhouse at Cliffe Castle Museum and Park impressed the judges

A public park in Keighley has won a Yorkshire-wide gardening competition, with judges calling it a "pleasure to visit".

Cliffe Castle Museum and Park was named joint overall winner in the Yorkshire in Bloom Awards' best overall public park or cemetery category.

The panel for the Royal Horticultural Society-backed competition described the plant selection and quality at the Bradford Council-run park as "excellent".

The other joint winners in the category were York Museum Gardens and Pannett Park in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Created by mill owner Henry Isaac Butterfield in the 1870s, Cliffe Castle and its grounds were donated to the people of Keighley in the 1940s, with the mansion becoming a museum.

All areas were found to be "very well-maintained, clean and tidy with beautifully mown lawns".

The park holds special events for people to enjoy the cherry blossoms

The judges’ notes said: “It was a pleasure to visit Cliffe Castle.

"The team are clearly very passionate about their work in the park – particularly supporting members of the very diverse local community."

A collection of cacti and exotic plants in the greenhouse also impressed the panel, along with educational projects at the park.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, from Bradford Council, said: "This is a credit to the district and a wonderful result for all those involved.

“Across the district, in total 11 awards were achieved which is testament to all the hard work - a huge amount of dedication goes into the upkeep of our wonderful parks and greenspaces."

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