Rain may have stopped play as the wraps came off the first-ever RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, but guests in the Experience Peak District & Derbyshire show garden braved the elements in true British style – with a traditional countryside picnic.

They toasted official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s success in winning a Silver Gilt Medal with a glass of Derbyshire sparkling wine and the cream of local produce – including Bakewell Pudding, Hartington cheese and hand-made pies made with locally-reared meat (Tuesday June 6).

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire joined the celebrations alongside Sheffield-based designer Lee Bestall – fresh from his Silver Medal winning triumph at RHS Chelsea 2017 – in the eye-catching space, inspired by the richness and variety of the area’s landscapes and formal gardens.

Gardener, broadcaster and writer Alan Titchmarsh also dropped by before RHS show organisers were forced to abandon the media preview day because of bad weather – and was particularly impressed by three life-size model cows grazing in wild flower strewn meadows.

The cows, sprayed in eye-catching metallic colours – copper, chrome/silver and gold – and ‘branded’ with a blue and white hand-painted circular motif, were intended to add a touch of whimsy and humour and are proving a real talking point.

Lee, whose business Bestall & Co, is based at Renishaw Hall, said:-

“I decided to include them after reading a comment by the late Sir George Sitwell of Renishaw Hall & Gardens that white cows could be made more interesting if painted with a blue pattern.

“I don’t think his vision was ever realised, but it certainly stimulated my imagination as a quirky complement to the overall picture I wanted to create. I was delighted by the enthusiastic reception our cows received from our guests on the first day – including Alan Titchmarsh, who really liked them.”

Jo Dilley, the tourist board’s Managing Director, added:-

“Fortunately both the cows and our garden made a great initial impression before the bad weather took hold on the first day, and we are really pleased that the reaction has been so positive, especially from the show judges.

“Now we’re looking for a good home for the cows after the show has closed, and are accepting sealed bids so that anyone interested in giving them a permanent home can register an interest. We’d particularly like to hear from anyone wanting to keep them together as a herd!”

Visitors can find the Experience Peak District & Derbyshire show garden at site number 112 on the RHS Chatsworth Showground until Sunday June 11. Anyone interested in submitting a sealed bid can do so on the Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire stand next to the garden, can contact info@marketingpdd.com or can call 01246 212924 for further details.

After the show has ended, the award-winning garden – built by JPH Landscapes of Sheffield – will be recreated at Renishaw Hall as one of its garden rooms, minus the cows, so that even more visitors to the area can enjoy and appreciate it.

Main show garden sponsors, Derbyshire-based CW Sellors Fine Jewellery, are launching their new, floral inspired Tuberose jewellery collection at the show. Other sponsors are Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire; Hope Cement, A Breedon Group Company; Peak District Premier Cottages; The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Bakewell Bakery.

Local produce for the picnic was supplied by The Bakewell Bakery; the English Wine Project, based at Renishaw Hall; Hartington Creamery; Mettrick’s Butchers of Glossop and Thornbridge Brewery.

Up to 90,000 visitors are expected in Derbyshire over the next five days as the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show opens in the county for the first time.

Derbyshire is gearing up for a big day of cycling when the OVO energy Women’s Tour comes to the county for the second year in a row.

The world’s top women cyclists will race through Derbyshire on Saturday 10 June 2017, starting in Chesterfield and taking in many of the county’s best-known market towns and landmarks before returning to Chesterfield for the finish.

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield will see the town centre decorated with a cycling theme as the Ovo Energy Women’s Tour comes closer.

Children from local schools have customised pink bicycles with their own decoration to celebrate the event, brought jointly by Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.

The bicycles are on display at various points in Chesterfield town centre:

• Chesterfield Library – decorated by Brockwell Junior School
• Dent’s Chemist, New Square – decorated by Brockwell Infant School
• Marks & Spencer/The Pine Shop – decorated by Brampton Primary School
• Adorn Jewellers, The Shambles – decorated by Cavendish Junior School
• Boot’s – decorated by Spire Junior School
• Green & Benz Jewellers – decorated by Calow Primary School
• Fred’s Haberdashery – decorated by Cutthorpe Primary School
• Marks & Spencer – decorated by Poolsbrook Primary School
• Shentall’s Florist – decorated by Staveley Junior School
• H&F Tea Rooms – decorated by Hasland Infant School
• Pavements Shopping Centre – decorated by Holymoorside Primary School.

To find out more about the bike trail click here.

Some of the world’s top women cyclists will take part in the race on Saturday 10 June which begins outside Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill at 10.30am.

The riders set off along an 81-mile route through the Derbyshire countryside taking in places including Belper, Bolsover, Crich, Wirksworth and Wingerworth as well as passing Hardwick Hall before what promises to be an exciting finish in Chesterfield market place at approximately 1.40pm.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader, said: –

“The Women’s Tour is set to be a fantastic event and we’re encouraging people to come along and cheer the riders as well as take part in the activities in Chesterfield town centre.

“It will be a great opportunities for families to have fun together, see their cycling heroes and find out more about cycling and fitness for themselves.”

For information on road closures and car parking in the town centre on the day click here.

The 2017 OVO Women’s Tour in Derbyshire promises to be an amazing cycling spectacle – and we’d love to see how women and girls across the county have been inspired!

That’s why in the lead-up to Stage Four on June 10, as well as on the day itself, we want you to post your cycling snaps on social media using your smartphones.

The best image of women and girls that promotes cycling and encourages others to get out their bikes will win a Women’s Tour cycling jersey.

Remember – any kind of cycling counts, whether you are getting the bike out of the shed for the first time since school, or clock up the miles every chance you get.

Your picture could be riding with your family in the local park, or along one of Derbyshire’s many, easy access, traffic-free cycles routes.

You might be a keen mountain bike or track cyclist, have pictures of your daughter at a School Games cycling event or be gearing up for the Eroica Britannia Cycling Festival, which is taking place from June 16 to 18.

Whatever imagery you have, please share it with us so we can highlight to others the huge health and social benefits of cycling, as well as savings on travel costs.

Simply post your entries on the Derbyshire Sport, Cycling Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council  or ChesterfieldUK Facebook or Twitter pages, using the hashtag #OVOWT.

Images will then be added to a gallery on Derbyshire Sport’s 2017 OVO Women’s Tour website page, where you can also find when and where the race passes through your area, plus all the latest news.

The best picture will be judged by a panel from Derbyshire Sport, Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council. Its decision will be final.

Closing date for entries is Wednesday June 14 at 5pm and the winner will be announced soon after.

You can also keep up to date through the Women’s Tour pages of Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council, who are joint sponsors of stage four through Derbyshire.

Their valued support is part of the push to make Derbyshire the most connected and integrated cycling county in England by 2030, as outlined in The Derbyshire Cycling Plan.

The county wants to be recognised as a world class cycling destination for all, with more people of all ages and abilities on two wheels on a regular basis for leisure, active travel, commuting and sport.

Chesterfield Borough Council and Cancer Research UK have teamed up for the town’s ninth Race for Life on Sunday 11th June.

Women of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities can walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer. All women are welcome and boys under 11 are welcome too.

Residents are also being encouraged to volunteer at the event. There are a variety or voluntary roles available to help make the event run smoothly on the day.

• Event Day Volunteer – Get stuck in with anything – from pitching flags and hanging banners to handing out water and medals.
• Course Marshal Volunteer – Cheer on the runners, walkers and joggers as they take on the course and lift some spirits along the way.
• Enquiries Volunteer – Help ease the nerves by supporting runners and spectators with their queries

For more information about volunteering or to sign up as a volunteer click here.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said:-

“All of us will at some point have a personal experience with cancer and, for this reason, we are pleased to welcome women taking part in the race to Chesterfield.

“There will be some disruption for road users and people wanting to park in the town centre but we have worked to keep this to a minimum to allow us to support this worthy cause.

“The very best of luck to everyone taking part.”

The event starts from Chesterfield Town Hall on Rose Hill at 10.30am.

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will temporarily close Queens Park North car park, Rose Hill car park and Albion Road car park.

During the race alternative parking can be found at Holywell Cross (Donut), Ashgate Road or Queen’s Park South car parks.

Soresby Street car park will also open only for participants in the event. It will reopen to the public once the race is finished.

Several roads around the town centre including around the Town Hall, Knifesmithgate, Elder Way, around the Crooked Spire church and sections of West Bars, New Beetwell Street, Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road will also be closed for periods between early morning and early afternoon while the race takes place.

Chesterfield is set to experience a blooming riot of colour this summer as residents get set to enter the annual best kept garden competition as part of the Chesterfield in Bloom campaign.

Chesterfield in Bloom is led by a committee of local residents supported by Chesterfield Borough Council.

More than 100 people took part in the competition last year, which is open to all Chesterfield borough residents.

There are nine categories in the competition:

• Best front garden – sponsored by Dunston Hall/New Leaf Garden Centres
• Best back garden (up to 80m²) – sponsored by Chesterfield Markets
• Best back garden (larger than 80m²)
• Best container garden/hanging basket
• Best blooming pub/restaurant
• Best kept allotment site (two acres and above)
• Best kept allotment site (less than two acres)
• Best kept individual allotment plot (150m² and above). – sponsored by the Friends of Eastwood Park
• Best kept individual allotment plot (less than 150m²).

Everyone who enters the competition is automatically entered into the best overall garden category – sponsored by N T Killingley Ltd.

The judging will be carried out by Chesterfield in Bloom committee members and Chesterfield Borough Council staff.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said:-

“Chesterfield in Bloom is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our wonderful borough.

“It’s not only for people with large gardens, people who have hanging baskets or grow the best fresh veggies on their allotments can also enter.”

Chesterfield in Bloom forms the borough’s entry into the regional East Midlands in Bloom competition.

Last year, Chesterfield won gold in the small cities category of the competition.

Visitors are invited to explore outdoors this half term at Chatsworth with a week-long Water Spectacular featuring magnificent displays from the Emperor Fountain, reaching the staggering equivalent height of 14 double decker buses.

With the May bank holiday set for glorious weather, visitors can also marvel at the impressive site of water tumbling over the roof of the Cascade House before it flows over the stone steps designed to mimic the sound of music.

Other spectacular water features on display are the Ring Pond and Willow Tree Fountain. A survivor from the 17th century garden, the Ring Pond’s original columns originally stood in the garden at Chiswick House in west London but moved to Chatsworth in 1893. The Willow Tree Fountain was designed as a practical joke when it was first ‘planted’ in its own little dell back in the 17th century. The artificial tree of brass often catches out the unwary with its sprays of water.

Free drop-in tours of the water features will take place five times a day. Starting from the bottom of the Cascade, tours will focus on the waterworks with a short five minute talk before each feature is turned on.

Chatsworth’s Paul Hayes said:-

“With glorious sunshine predicted for the bank holiday, we’re confident visitors will be in awe of the spectacular water features here at Chatsworth. It’s a rare opportunity to witness the full potential of our waterworks and a chance to cool off in the spray of the impressive Emperor Fountain as it shoots 200 feet into the air, more than double its usual playing height of 75 feet!”

Hands-on activities will also be on offer over the weekend (27-28 May) in the Stickyard. Visitors are invited to join the education team and volunteers from Moors for the Future and discover more about moorlands and the plants and animals that live on the moors above Chatsworth.

Face painting, shire horse and dray rides plus live performances from the barrel organ will also be taking place throughout the holiday, offering visitors the perfect family-friendly day out this half term.