The legacy of world-renowned landscape designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown is the inspiration behind this year’s Florabundance festival at Chatsworth, taking place from 24-28 June.

Leading floral designer Jonathan Moseley is set to showcase extravagant and colourful displays featuring British flowers, herbs and fragrances celebrating the tercentenary of the iconic garden designer.

‘Capability’ Brown transformed the parkland at Chatsworth in 1760 designed out of what was then working farmland – a challenge for the great designer who often talked of a garden’s ‘capabilities’ which earned him his well-known nickname. He continues to be hugely influential to landscape gardeners and architects across the world to this day.

This year’s Florabundance will see Chatsworth transformed with colourful displays of British grown flowers, fragrances and herbs and unusual exotics inspired by the current exhibition ‘The Grand Tour’. Each room will be bursting with foliage and colour and will have its own distinct features, with the Chapel drawing inspiration from Damien Hirst’s Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain. Local growers from Derbyshire and Yorkshire will provide assistance in setting up the displays.

The house will be dressed with large floral sculptural installations in both classic and contemporary styles using a combination of foliage specially gathered from the Chatsworth Estate.

The Sculpture Gallery is always one of the highlights of the event and will feature a collection of naturalistic displays influenced by the Chatsworth gardens and wider Capability Brown landscape.

Jonathan Moseley will be hosting a series of demonstrations and a workshop during the exhibition where visitors will be shown how to create inspirational designs using British flowers and receive top gardening tips from the renowned designer.

Florabundance takes place at Chatsworth from 24-28 June. For more information search online for Florabundance Festival.

(Image below shows leading floral designer Jonathan Moseley).

Chesterfield’s community choir Qdos is set to showcase some of its best songs this week in a free performance taking place on Thursday 16th June at West Studios on Sheffield Road.

Set up in March 2015 by Qdos Creates – a local arts charity, which deliver projects, performances and workshops for children and adults locally and nationally – the choir includes members of all ages.

Anjie Taylor, Co Founder and Artistic Director of Qdos Creates comments: “There will be no written music or any instruments – just the natural voice and lots of lovely harmony lead by Andrea Small, a natural voice practitioner. We look forward to seeing lots of people at our performance!”

Community choir Qdos will perform at West Studios, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield on Thursday 16 June at 11.15am and everyone is welcome to attend. The performance is free of charge and refreshments will be available to buy.

The group is currently looking for a local sponsor or further funding so the choir can continue. If you are able to help with this or would like to join the choir please email anjie@qdoscreates.com or call 01226 242905.

Residents and visitors can take part in a host of events in Chesterfield’s town centre this Friday 17th June to celebrate the arrival of the world’s top women cyclists competing in stage 3 of the Aviva Women’s Tour.

Coordinated by Chesterfield Borough Council, events at Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill will include:

• A Workplace Challenge event, allowing companies and individuals to hop on stationary bikes to see who can pedal the furthest (time slots available between 8.30am and 1pm);
• A cycling promotional area open from 10am to 3pm
• A display of disability bikes by Wheely Fun Wheels from 11am to 3pm with the chance to have a go from noon to 1pm;
• A display by a unicycle display team from 11.30am to noon.

Events in and around the market place include:
• Students from Chesterfield College presenting spin bikes and advice on activities for women from Active Chesterfield in New Square from 9.30am to 3pm;
• A chance to have a go on kids’ balance bikes outside the Market Hall from 10.30am to 1pm.

There will also be displays by a unicycle display team at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre from 12.45pm to 1.45pm and 2.15pm to 2.45pm.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said: “It is a great honour for Chesterfield to welcome the world’s top cyclists as the Aviva Women’s Tour takes place in the town.

“As well as seeing the thrilling finish of the race in the market place, we have a packed programme of fun events for all ages to take part and learn more about cycling and fitness in the market place, Vicar Lane and outside the Town Hall – I’d encourage everyone to come along and join in.”

The Aviva Women’s Tour will enter the town centre by Saltergate, Soresby Street, Rose Hill, West Bars and Low Pavement before finishing in the market place between 1.30pm and 2.30pm where the podium presentation will take place.

This event will be attended by local schools who will take part in guided cycle rides and by the Eroica Britannia cycle team.

Find out all the details for the Stage 3 finish in Chesterfield including family entertainment, road closures and parking information.

Time is running out to enter this year’s Chesterfield in Bloom competition which closes on Friday 24th June.

Run by Chesterfield Borough Council, there are a total of ten categories open for entry this year, from Best blooming pub or restaurant sponsored by Weightron Bilanciai to Best kept allotment site sponsored by Chesterfield Markets.

Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony this September and some of the entrants may also be visited by the East Midlands in Bloom judges next month as part of their tour of the borough.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Last year, we had more than 100 entries to the Chesterfield in Bloom competition and the standard of them is always very high.

“Chesterfield in Bloom is not just about growing pretty flowers; people with well-kept landscaping can enter – and if you don’t have a garden, you can enter the best kept hanging basket category. There really is something for everyone and I encourage people to take part.”

This year’s Chesterfield in Bloom competition closes on Friday 24 June. For more information, download an entry form using the link below or contact john.ramsey@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Chesterfield in Bloom competition 2016 entry form.

The Derbyshire economy could be boosted by as much as £32.7m during this summer’s Euro 2016 football championships, according to new figures.

East Midlands Chamber* has analysed national data which predicts that the UK economy will benefit by up to £2.5bn in additional spending by consumers during the tournament – a similar level to that seen during the 2014 World Cup.

The figures predict that thirsty football fans across Derbyshire will drink more than £768,000 worth of beer during the course of the tournament, while those in Derbyshire who fancy a flutter will gamble around £6.5m on the outcome of games.

There is a downside, however. A separate study** found that the Derbyshire economy could take a -£2.6m hit as a result of lost productivity when England play Wales at 2pm on 16 June, as employees ‘throw a sickie’, take the afternoon off or spend working time browsing news and social media sites to keep tabs on the score.

Lucy Robinson, the Chamber’s Director of Resources, said: “We know that many people in the East Midlands are fanatical about football and this is set to translate into an economic boost for the region as fans shell out on the latest gadgets, merchandise and food and drink in preparation for and during the tournament.

“However, businesses may need to apply a bit of common sense if they have staff who want to watch the big games, to avoid a spike in unauthorised absence and the problems that come with it.

“A little flexibility on both sides, such as allowing staff to watch the games – subject to TV Licensing rules if on company premises – and then make up any lost working time at a later date, would go a long way to resolving any such issues.

“It’s important, however, to be fair and consistent if you allow staff flexibility during Euro 2016. For example, you may have staff of different nationalities who might want to watch their own countries in the same way that England fans will.

“And it’s not just about football, the same could apply to workers wanting to take time out to watch Wimbledon or the Rio Olympics, or attend music festivals or other social events. The key message is that if you apply a rule for one person, then it should be extended to all.”

* (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire).
** England’s Euro clash with Wales could cost economy over £200m – Manchester Evening News 3rd June.