The sun shone on Saturday April 13 for the Spring Food, Home & Garden Show at Ripon Cathedral with hundreds of people pouring through the doors to enjoy a great day out. Visitors came from all over Yorkshire to see the baby animals which were kindly provided by Burnie’s Mobile Farm, Ripon.

Over 80 independent traders from across Yorkshire took their place in the stunning setting of the nave, selling gardening goods, food treats, homewares, clothing, toys and gifts. In addition a Cathedral Plant Stall sold affordable plants and seeds, there was a bottle tombola and a fabulous raffle.

A pop-up café served pulled pork sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks, while visitors were treated to wonderful live music throughout the day from Dishforth Military Wives Choir, Rock Choir Ripon, All Together Now Choir, Ripon Trinity Singers, Skelldale Singers and All for One Choir.

Visitors this year enjoyed talks from experts Cerys Gill, founder of Halls and Homes, who inspired us to make wreaths and Joel Gibb, Head Gardener at the Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park who spoke about the history of the gardens. In the afternoon Fiona Boddy form Ouseburn Meadows Flower Farm introduced us to Foam Free Flower arranging. We are very grateful for their inputs which really enhanced the Spring Show.

Children attending the event made sheep and bees , spring drawings and created Lego models.  The Ripon Cathedral Choristers Chocolate Tombola was also a great draw for children and adults alike with choristers raising money for music at the cathedral.

The show raised a record amount of over £19,000 for the mission, music, education programme and conservation of Ripon Cathedral. 

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson said: “I am grateful to those who worked hard to make the Spring Show possible, and to the many hundreds who supported it. This is now an annual event which is growing in popularity and gives a great opportunity for people from across the region to enjoy this wonderful spring event in the incredible beauty of Ripon Cathedral.“

The cathedral would like to thank all the hard-working cathedral volunteers who helped to make the event such a great success. We would also like to thank our main sponsor The Inn Collection Group and Event Partner Linley & Simpson of Ripon for their generous support along with all the local businesses who generously provided us with raffle prizes. A special mention should go to Valentino’s Restaurant in Ripon for its support, in addition to Sainsburys and Morrisons for their generous catering donations.

The Food, Home and Garden Show will take place again on March 29 2025, please save the date and do join us.

We hope you can also join us at another event at Ripon Cathedral soon. The annual Ripon Cathedral Beer Festival takes place on Saturday August 24 2024. More at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/events/ripon-cathedral-beer-festival-2024