Rejoicing in Ripon EXCLUSIVE: Ripon’s biggest‑ever display to celebrate all that is best about the city

The Rejoicing in Ripon blog has been given an exclusive first glimpse of a major project that will celebrate the city’s history, heritage and horticultural excellence 🌿📜🌺

Taking inspiration from the Gold Award won by Ripon in Bloom in 2025 🥇🌸, the huge Fill Your Boots project is being coordinated by Ripon Community Poppy Project in support of Ripon in Bloom’s 2026 entry — working in collaboration with Ripon BID, Jennyruth Workshops, Ripon Men’s Shed and North Yorkshire Council 🤝💛

Stuart Martin, who co‑founded the Community Poppy Project with Hazel Barker in 2017, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“In terms of the areas it will cover, this will be the biggest display that we have been involved in, taking in every roundabout on the bypass to the city centre and neighbouring streets.” 🚗🌼

Life‑size silhouettes 🐎⛳

“There will also be life‑size silhouettes of a horse and jockey at Ripon’s picturesque garden racecourse, and a golfer at Ripon Golf Club,” he added 🐎⛳🌳

Hazel pointed out:
“A contributory factor to Ripon in Bloom’s golden triumph in 2025 was the degree of community involvement, and we believe there is an opportunity for people of all ages to get involved with the 2026 entry — while filling their boots with the joy of living in a city that has so much to offer.” 🌟👢💐

Fittingly, the first element of the display — featuring silhouettes of pairs of wellington boots — was put in place this morning (Tuesday April 28) on the roundabout at the bottom of Bedern Bank, just a stone’s throw from Ripon’s magnificent cathedral 👢🌸⛪

Community Poppy Project stalwart Carol Dunkley, who was part of the assembly party, said:
“The displays will include a cut‑out of St Wilfrid, the city’s patron saint and hornblower, both of which show how deep Ripon’s roots go.” 🎺⛪

She added:
“There will also be Alice in Wonderland, the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter — all of which will be gathering shortly to hold a tea party in the Specsavers window on Market Place West.” 🐇🎩☕✨

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst said:
“The displays being created and installed through this enormous community effort will look fabulous across the city centre and beyond, and will have a real wow factor for residents and visitors alike.
With the Whitsun Bank Holiday and school holidays just a month away, the timing could not be better — and they will also add to the spectacle of the extended and exceptional Ripon Theatre Festival, whose fifth season runs for eight days from July 5 to July 12.” 🎭🌟🌼

Hazel Barker (left) Carol Dunkley and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project pictured this morning putting the first element of the display in place. Photograph by Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog for Ripon BID.

Above photos were supplied by Jennyruth Workshops.