Bed Race to be marked by 100 young oaks from Harlow Carr

Knaresborough Lions Club plans to plant 100 young oak trees, donated by RHS Garden Harlow Carr, to commemorate the Great Knaresborough Bed Race. The trees will be planted in Horseshoe Fields in the autumn on the opposite bank of the river Nidd from where Bed Race starts and finishes.

“We are enormously proud to be able to do this thanks to the generosity of RHS Harlow Carr,” say the Lions. “They have supported us in this initiative and are also helping to sponsor this year’s Bed Race.”

RHS Harlow Carr’s donation is part of the massive planting of trees being undertaken as part of the Great Northern Forrest project, which sees millions of trees planted in a band across the north from Liverpool to Hull. There is a massive tree planting exercise in Yorkshire specially focused on recreating the historic Forest of Knaresborough.

The Lions are playing their part and are building on the theme of the 2022 Bed Race of The Environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We have other measures in mind and planting trees is only one way we will build on the theme.”

The event is organised by the all-volunteer Lions to raise funds for community charities and good causes. Linking with other local charities such as Harlow Carr reinforces the ethos that Bed Race has established over the years.

"We are delighted to be able to donate 100 young oak trees to the Great Northern Forrest project and play a part in this fantastic initiative. It is the RHS vision to enrich everyone’s life through plants and to make the UK a greener and more beautiful place and we are always looking for new ways to achieve this and encourage more people to get gardening," said Liz Thwaite, Harlow Carr's Head of Site.

Set amongst the rugged Yorkshire landscape on the western edge of Harrogate, RHS Harlow Carr is a stunning spot that combines garden inspiration with outdoor exploration across a 58-acre site. Stroll around the Queen Mother’s Lake, along Streamside, and venture into the historic Bath House. Don’t miss the Alpine House – home to over 2,000 plants – or the tranquil Sandstone Rock Garden. The exotic new Sub Tropicana Garden will transport you from Yorkshire to the Tropics, while adventurous younger family members will be wowed by the garden’s stunning stretch of Woodland.