1,269 sunflowers marking the number of men tended to at Harewood House in Yorkshire when it served as an auxiliary Hospital from 1915 – 1919, form part of Seeds of Hope, an exciting new visitor experience for all ages and interests, opening at Harewood House Saturday 30th June until 4th November 2018.
Seeds of Hope focuses on the hidden stories and spaces of the Bothy and Walled Gardens, seen through the eyes of characters who lived and worked there 100 years ago and told through an innovative presentation of images, the bothy boy John’s journal, theatrical installations, and scenes that bring the garden Bothy to life, a space that has previously been closed to visitors. The Walled Garden is very much a part of the experience and has been replanted with heritage vegetables, will showcase a Peace Meadow with thousands of white Cosmos ‘Purity’ flowers and is now home to a number of heritage breed animals, including chickens and goats. A newly commissioned and composed soundscape drifts through the gardens to help transport visitors back 100 years to a point where the country was moving beyond war to more hopeful times.
Walled Garden. Harewood House
This is a brand-new exhibition and experience at the leading Yorkshire attraction, celebrated for its collections in the House, the Gardens and Bird Garden, and currently showing a highly praised exhibition on master craftsman, Thomas Chippendale. Seeds of Hope is a collaboration with young Leeds-based creative team, Lord Whitney, and provides a new opportunity to discover some of the untold stories of Harewood in an alternative and engaging way. It is a work of imagination rooted in historical fact.
Jane Marriott, Director of Harewood House Trust, comments:
“Seeds of Hope was programmed specifically to coincide with the 100 year commemoration of the end of the First World War, and we felt very strongly that we wanted to focus on themes of hope and resilience, plus the key roles people played at home, whilst others were overseas fighting. We used actual people at Harewood at the time to inspire the stories and the experience visitors will have, and that is why the Gardeners’ Bothy is so important.
“We are looking forward to a very different experience at Harewood this summer, allowing people of all ages to explore new stories and spaces, complemented by a relevant programme of activities and events.”
Access: To reach Seeds of Hope, visitors can step on board a brand new chain ferry, which links the main courtyard and Bird Garden across the lake to the Walled Garden, and will be run by a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable skippers. Alternatively, they can take a short, leisurely walk through the gardens and round the Lake to arrive at the start of the new experience.
The Potting Shed close to the Bothy acts as the entry point to this story of life in the gardens, a vital part of Harewood at the time, supporting the House and the local community with food and sustenance during the war effort. Visitors collect their journal and choose their route throughout the space, and the newly opened pop-up Horse Box will be in situ to serve vintage cream teas, Prosecco and Gin & Tonic on the lawn.
Walled Garden. Harewood House,Yorkshire, UK. Early Autumn, September 2015.
LAUNCH WEEKEND
Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July
Join us for a weekend of music, games, talks and celebration as we launch our summer experience, Seeds of Hope, together with the maiden voyage of the new Chain Ferry on the lake.
Located in the newly opened Bothy and replanted Walled Gardens, Seeds of Hope is an innovative and immersive installation, filled with beautiful sets, soundscapes and narratives. Discover untold stories and explore hidden spaces through reimagined stories from 100 years ago, focusing on the importance of the gardens and its characters in a time of new joy and hope.
Our pop-up Horse Truck is serving vintage cream teas, Prosecco and Gin & Tonic adjacent to the Bothy, with ample space to sit and enjoy the surroundings, and will remain in place throughout the summer.
The Chain Ferry will be officially launched at 12pm by Lord Harewood.
FREE ENTRY: Dress in clothing from the era on Saturday 30th June and gain free of charge entry to the Harewood grounds before 12pm.
NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY: To mark National Armed Forces Day, all current and veteran members of the Armed Forces are welcome to enter free of charge on Saturday 30th June. An Armed Forces ID Card or Veterans ID card must be shown at our entry point. Free access is valid only for those with an ID card, standard entry prices apply to all other visitors
Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds, LS17 9LG
