A GARDEN celebrating Yorkshire’s hosting of the 2014 Grand Départ of the Tour de France has won a silver-gilt at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Five-time winner of the race Bernard Hinault and tour director Christian Prudhomme visited the show today (Tuesday, May 21) to see the garden as part of a two-day visit to the UK.

Tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire’s Le Jardin de Yorkshire, designed by Bedale-based Alistair W Baldwin associates, was praised for its use of artwork representing cyclists racing alongside scenes of the Yorkshire Dales.

It includes a flock of wire sheep by Whitby sculptor Emma Stothard, a drinking trough engraved with the names of towns along the route, a wildflower meadow made from recycled rubbish and the country’s rarest orchid, only found wild in Yorkshire.

Mr Baldwin said: ‘It’s fantastic that Le Jardin managed to capture the imagination of the judges, and it seems to have made an impression on the public as well.

“Our intention in creating this garden was to represent Yorkshire and its famous Dales as well as to capture the excitement of the 2014 Grand Départ, so hopefully people will have a glimpse into the future of cycling in the county.’’

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: ‘‘To receive Silver-Gilt at the world's greatest flower show in its 100th year is not just a proud moment for Le Jardin de Yorkshire, but for all the people who have worked on it and of course all the great gardens of Yorkshire who we are promoting as part of our entry at Chelsea.’’