Flowers for Leeds: How city pride was cultivated through a gardening competition

It was a competition aimed at stimulating pride in Leeds and its appearance by the cultivation of flowers and the care of the garden. Flowers for Leeds started in the 1930s and ended in the 1960s to be replaced by the Leeds in Bloom competition. With the post-war boom in building houses with gardens, gardening became a major hobby, especially as so many gardens had been turned over to grow vegetables during the war. It featured different classes of competition ranging from one open to people who lived on the pre-fab housing estates that were built after the war on slum-cleared sites through to the best non-corporation garden. Organisers were keen to encourage young gardeners throughout Leeds schools and in 1952 a new trophy, the Robert Barr Cup, was introduced for the lucky winners. Your Yorkshire Evening Post met the costs of the admin and organisation for the competition and funded the certificate and prize money to the value of £125. Enjoy these photos from a competition which aimed to showcase Leeds looking at its best. READ MORE: 14 photos to take you back to Leeds in 1962 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia