Bloom!

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Ancient Society of York Florists, the oldest florists’ society still in existence in the world, a new festival, Bloom!, is being planned for historic York in 2018. The new four-day festival, from 5-8 July, celebrating horticulture and flowers in York, will mark this milestone with events and installations right across the city. 

The Ancient Society of York Florists is the oldest existing horticultural society, predating any other, with records dating back to 1768, when the society was founded. It is the only society retaining the word 'florists' in its title, which refers back to the time when only florists' flowers were accepted as exhibits - a florist being a person who grew flowers for their beauty and not a seller of cut flowers as it is today.