A DALES flower club is hoping to raise spirits during the lockdown with doorstep displays of vibrant blooms.

With all regular meetings of Wensleydale Flower Club cancelled for the foreseeable future, their members have been sharing and enjoying pictures of designs and arrangements that they have made.

In a national initiative, the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies has asked its 46,000 members to show support for the NHS, care and other essential workers. The idea is to design, create and display a floral "Ring of Hope", which should be displayed on their doors that can be appreciated by those passing-by.This has been taken up by the Wensleydale Flower Club’s members who are displaying their own ‘Rings of Hope’ across the area.

Leyburn hairdresser Mandy Banks who was filmed at the Wensleydale Agricultural Show last year for an hour-long programme: the Yorkshire Dales and The Lakes has definitely entered into the spit of things. Her own floral display has drawn admiring comments from those out on exercise or essential journeys. She said: “We all need to make a bit of an effort to cheer people up and this is me doing my bit.”

To view a video of how to create your own “Ring of Hope” visit the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies’ website.