The Flower Belt lies between the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Howardian Hills Natural Landscape) and the North York Moors National Park. It’s just a 40-minute drive from York, a region rich in cultural, historical, and natural attractions, and only a couple of minutes’ drive from Helmsley.

The Wainwrights have farmed in the rolling countryside of Ryedale in North Yorkshire since 1962. The farm combines arable land and livestock, and Henry Wainwright works alongside his father. However, shortly after Henry returned to the family farm from agricultural college, the family realised that they needed to diversify their operations so he could work full-time on the farm.

Farms across the UK are having to rethink how they run their operations, with many turning to alternative methods to make ends meet. The Wainwrights came up with the idea of growing wildflowers in one of the farm’s meadows, and so they started the Flower Belt. Henry told me that they initially started with a small flower meadow and that he and his mother wrapped flowers in an old cattle trailer and served coffee from a horsebox that Henry had converted.

Although I had driven past The Flower Belt on numerous occasions on my way to Helmsley, I had never actually visited it. That all changed when I received an invitation to attend the 5th wildflower season on 16th July, which I readily accepted. I set off, not knowing what to expect, and I had a truly memorable evening.

Looking out over 7 ½ acres of colourful wildflowers, set against the backdrop of the beautiful North York Moors National Park, was truly spectacular. The Flower Belt really does invite visitors to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the colourful display of flowers while taking in the stunning countryside.

The evening was a complete success, with perfect weather, live music, handmade pizza, locally brewed beer, prosecco and wine. What was not to love?

With a programme packed with events and activities throughout the season, including music nights, Pilates, and, of course, flower picking, it is the perfect place to visit. Alongside the events, visitors can browse unique gifts and enjoy freshly prepared food and drinks while relaxing in the beautiful outdoor areas designed to make the most of the views. The Flower Belt is much more than just a flower field, offering barista coffee, homemade cakes, pizza, and local drinks to enjoy.

For more information about events and opening times, please visit: https://theflowerbelt.co.uk/




If you would like to donate to these amazing causes, Steven has set up a Just Giving page which can be found here https://www.justgiving.com/team/charolais-bull-tour