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| Harrogate 'hanami' as people flock to photograph cherry blossom | Harrogate 'hanami' as people flock to photograph cherry blossom |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The blossom on The Stray in Harrogate only appears for a couple of weeks each spring | The blossom on The Stray in Harrogate only appears for a couple of weeks each spring |
| Sakura season in Japan attracts millions of tourists a year - but a UK spa town's residents argue a 6,000-mile flight isn't required to witness spectacular blooms. | Sakura season in Japan attracts millions of tourists a year - but a UK spa town's residents argue a 6,000-mile flight isn't required to witness spectacular blooms. |
| Long rows of candy floss-coloured cherry blossoms are in season in Harrogate, with the short-lived natural phenomenon creating a vivid tourist destination. | Long rows of candy floss-coloured cherry blossoms are in season in Harrogate, with the short-lived natural phenomenon creating a vivid tourist destination. |
| Visitors are heading to North Yorkshire to pose amongst the pink confetti, with local photographers offering themed photo shoots before the petals disappear. | Visitors are heading to North Yorkshire to pose amongst the pink confetti, with local photographers offering themed photo shoots before the petals disappear. |
| One of those is Bethany Clarke, whose photographs of the trees on The Stray have appeared in national newspapers. | One of those is Bethany Clarke, whose photographs of the trees on The Stray have appeared in national newspapers. |
| "They are really popular this year, and have been growing over the past five to six years," she says. | "They are really popular this year, and have been growing over the past five to six years," she says. |
| "I can see why because it is a beautiful backdrop." | "I can see why because it is a beautiful backdrop." |
| She continues: "I have been really busy with lots of families, couples, people who are expecting babies - it works for everyone." | She continues: "I have been really busy with lots of families, couples, people who are expecting babies - it works for everyone." |
| The dry and sunny weather has led to more people spending time on The Stray | The dry and sunny weather has led to more people spending time on The Stray |
| Ms Clarke believes people sharing their blossom photos on social media has caused huge interest in the area of public parkland as a photo shoot destination. | Ms Clarke believes people sharing their blossom photos on social media has caused huge interest in the area of public parkland as a photo shoot destination. |
| "I think year on year it is getting busier and busier, people from outside Harrogate are flocking here to see it," she says. | "I think year on year it is getting busier and busier, people from outside Harrogate are flocking here to see it," she says. |
| "They see photos on Facebook or Instagram, they have seen a friend had a shoot done and they want to book in too." | "They see photos on Facebook or Instagram, they have seen a friend had a shoot done and they want to book in too." |
| Bethany Clarke says people from outside Harrogate are "flocking" to see the blossom | Bethany Clarke says people from outside Harrogate are "flocking" to see the blossom |
| The tradition of enjoying blossoms between March and May in Japan is known as "hanami", or "flower viewing", and carries deep cultural significance. | The tradition of enjoying blossoms between March and May in Japan is known as "hanami", or "flower viewing", and carries deep cultural significance. |
| The photographer, who lives in Harrogate, says she visited the country for sakura season and has spotted visual similarities in her local park. | The photographer, who lives in Harrogate, says she visited the country for sakura season and has spotted visual similarities in her local park. |
| "It blew my mind how everything there is cherry blossom themed, they really are quite obsessed with it - and I can see why because it's stunning," she says. | "It blew my mind how everything there is cherry blossom themed, they really are quite obsessed with it - and I can see why because it's stunning," she says. |
| Memory Mawarire and her family visited to take some photos beneath the trees | Memory Mawarire and her family visited to take some photos beneath the trees |
| Smiling beneath the bright canopy, Memory Mawarire and her family are meeting up to take photos while the flowers are in bloom. | Smiling beneath the bright canopy, Memory Mawarire and her family are meeting up to take photos while the flowers are in bloom. |
| "We live nearby but we have just come out to have some fun, get some pictures around the cherry blossoms," she says. | "We live nearby but we have just come out to have some fun, get some pictures around the cherry blossoms," she says. |
| "Last year I saw people from Japan mostly, and quite a few from around here." | "Last year I saw people from Japan mostly, and quite a few from around here." |
| Shirley Sutton (left) travelled from Newcastle to see the flowers | Shirley Sutton (left) travelled from Newcastle to see the flowers |
| Natalie, her niece, says it's the first time this year they've managed to get together to photograph the trees. | Natalie, her niece, says it's the first time this year they've managed to get together to photograph the trees. |
| "We had to 'go big or go home' and try to get all the cherry blossom pictures in - as many as possible!" | "We had to 'go big or go home' and try to get all the cherry blossom pictures in - as many as possible!" |
| Shirley Sutton, who has travelled down from Newcastle to visit her friend Jen, says: "I saw it on her photographs on Facebook and I said I'd come as well. | Shirley Sutton, who has travelled down from Newcastle to visit her friend Jen, says: "I saw it on her photographs on Facebook and I said I'd come as well. |
| "I'm glad I managed to catch it before it falls down - it is gorgeous and we have been really lucky with the weather." | "I'm glad I managed to catch it before it falls down - it is gorgeous and we have been really lucky with the weather." |
| The cherry trees have lined the park's paths for more than 75 years | The cherry trees have lined the park's paths for more than 75 years |
| Jordanna Vallance and Fran Addis headed to the park to have a picnic amongst the blossom | Jordanna Vallance and Fran Addis headed to the park to have a picnic amongst the blossom |
| Jordanna Vallance and Fran Addis, both from Harrogate, are picnicking in the sun and plan to return each year to photograph their babies in the blossom. | Jordanna Vallance and Fran Addis, both from Harrogate, are picnicking in the sun and plan to return each year to photograph their babies in the blossom. |
| "It is one of those destinations to visit each year isn't it," Ms Vallance says. | "It is one of those destinations to visit each year isn't it," Ms Vallance says. |
| "As soon as the blossom comes out you've got to come down and see it." | "As soon as the blossom comes out you've got to come down and see it." |
| Ms Addis adds: "It is stunning, it would rival anything in Japan. | Ms Addis adds: "It is stunning, it would rival anything in Japan. |
| "It is nature, and being out in nature is so good for everybody." | "It is nature, and being out in nature is so good for everybody." |
| When were the cherry trees planted on The Stray? | When were the cherry trees planted on The Stray? |
| About 200 cherry trees were planted in 1953, to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II | About 200 cherry trees were planted in 1953, to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II |
| The area was part of the Forest of Knaresborough, a royal hunting forest which passed into the hands of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in 1369 | The area was part of the Forest of Knaresborough, a royal hunting forest which passed into the hands of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in 1369 |
| It remained in the hands of the Duchy of Lancaster, which still owns the freehold on the 200 acre public space | It remained in the hands of the Duchy of Lancaster, which still owns the freehold on the 200 acre public space |
| Visitors are also using the vivid backdrop to snap striking photos of their pets | Visitors are also using the vivid backdrop to snap striking photos of their pets |
| Ian Choi, another local photographer, says: "For me, taking photos during blossom season is about more than just the blossoms - it's about capturing the feeling of the place, the connection between people and the land. | Ian Choi, another local photographer, says: "For me, taking photos during blossom season is about more than just the blossoms - it's about capturing the feeling of the place, the connection between people and the land. |
| "Through my photography, I hope to show that the cherry blossoms here are not just pretty flowers, they carry a lot of meaning for Harrogate too." | "Through my photography, I hope to show that the cherry blossoms here are not just pretty flowers, they carry a lot of meaning for Harrogate too." |
| He adds: "It's a beautiful place to work, and I feel very lucky to be part of it." | He adds: "It's a beautiful place to work, and I feel very lucky to be part of it." |
| Family portraits are popular on The Stray, as are wedding and business shoots | Family portraits are popular on The Stray, as are wedding and business shoots |
| The Stray Defence Association was started in 1933 to safeguard the land, with chair Judy d'Arcy Thompson describing the spectacle as the "stunning herald of spring and early summer". | The Stray Defence Association was started in 1933 to safeguard the land, with chair Judy d'Arcy Thompson describing the spectacle as the "stunning herald of spring and early summer". |
| "We have had Japanese wedding celebrations conducted underneath the cascades of double blossom," she says. | "We have had Japanese wedding celebrations conducted underneath the cascades of double blossom," she says. |
| "In recent years it has attracted lots of Japanese tourists celebrating the importance of the blossom, which is known by them as sakura." | "In recent years it has attracted lots of Japanese tourists celebrating the importance of the blossom, which is known by them as sakura." |
| "It expresses the fleeting joys, impermanence and yet hope of life," she concludes. | "It expresses the fleeting joys, impermanence and yet hope of life," she concludes. |
| Listen: Harrogate cherry blossom in bloom stuns tourists | |
| Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. | Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. |
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