The new collaboration will be hosted within The Conservatory in Raby’s Walled Gardens, where Deborah Simpson Boston, a floral designer and owner of Periwinkle Barn, has worked with Raby’s team of experts to create a beautifully designed flower pop-up shop.

The retail space, featuring seasonal bouquets, tools and books about gardening and floristry, will be within the central space of The Conservatory, alongside an exhibition area detailing the history of Raby’s 18^th century Walled Gardens and a space where Deborah will host a series of workshops on selected dates.

Deborah said: “Everything is so beautiful and well thought out here at Raby – it really is a dream place to work with its calming and soothing atmosphere. I hosted workshops at Raby Castle in the summer which was a fantastic introduction and I’m really looking forward to my ongoing residency here for the next few months. The winter period will bring seasonal workshops including wreath making, tablescapes and so much more.”

Deborah returned to the Durham countryside after studying and working in Brighton and London and has been growing delicate and romantic stems from her 400-year-old barn since 2022. She has over ten years of experience in event flowers and created the flower display for the 2025 Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral, which was attended by His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

With a passion for British flowers, sustainability is also a keen focus for Deborah at Periwinkle Barn. She said: “I’ve made the conscious decision to work as sustainably as possible, growing and using seasonal British stems from spring to autumn. From late autumn to winter, I source stems which are as sustainable as possible without chemicals or pesticides.

“My ethos closely aligns with Raby’s – there’s a wonderful synergy between us both and it’s brilliant to work with like-minded people.”

During her residency, Deborah will be working closely with Raby’s assistant head gardener, Becky Crowley, to utilise the cutting garden at Raby and what is available there seasonally, which will also provide an interactive element to the Periwinkle Barn workshops.

Becky said: “Deborah has designed a fantastic series of workshops for our visitors to enjoy, focusing on different flowers and floral creations, incorporating a wide variety of methods to learn too. They will be taught from a sustainable point of view whilst also making use of the flowers we have available in our cutting garden and have been thoughtfully designed so visitors can take part in them as an entire series, a selection or even just a standalone experience.”

The Periwinkle Barn workshops will focus on a floral meadow box, hand-tied floral arrangements and urn arrangements alongside a selection of seasonal and festive creations, from advent candle wreaths and luxury Christmas wreaths to Christmas garlands and table arrangements including pots and bouquets.

The workshops will take place on the following dates between 10am and 12pm and tickets are between £50 and £70 per person:

• Floral Meadow Box on Saturday 1^st November
• Hand-tied Floral Arrangement on Saturday 8^th November
• Dutch Masters Urn and Fruit on Saturday 15^th November
• Seasonal Tablescape on Saturday 22^nd November
• Advent Candle Wreath on Sunday 23rd November
• Luxury Christmas Wreath on Friday 5th December and Saturday 6th December
• Luxury Door Swag on Sunday 7th December and Sunday 14th December
• Christmas Wreath on Friday 12th December
• Luxury Christmas Wreaths on Saturday 13th December
• Christmas Table Arrangement Pot on Saturday 20th December
• Christmas Table Arrangement Bouquet on Sunday 21st December
• Christmas Garland on Monday 22nd December and Tuesday 23rd December
• Christmas Table Arrangement on Wednesday 24th December

The Conservatory featuring the Periwinkle Barn residency will be open between 10am and 4pm, Thursday – Sunday, where visitors can also place bespoke wreath orders with Deborah in the build up to Christmas, and delivery of these special festive items can be arranged.

To find out more about the Periwinkle Barn floristry residency at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens and to book workshop tickets, visit: www.raby.co.uk/events/raby-x-periwinkle-barn/

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The achievement for the County Durham destination was in the Management or Development of a Historic Park or Garden category, with the first prize going to the Promenades de Reims in Reims, France. A fellow UK nominee, the South Cliff Gardens, was also awarded second place alongside Raby Castle, Park and Gardens.

Since 2010, around 140 winners from 23 countries have received an award from the European Garden Award. Most of these have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the maintenance and development of historic gardens, contemporary garden design, and exemplary climate adaptation initiatives.

The award acknowledged both the remodelling of the Walled Gardens, led by award-winning garden designer Luciano Giubbilei in creative collaboration with Lady Barnard, and the redesign of Raby Castle’s extensive public areas throughout the grounds, which was managed by acclaimed landscape architect Alistair Baldwin. Both projects were completed in 2024 as part of the landmark three-year regeneration development at Raby Castle.

Lady Barnard, creative director and custodian of Raby Castle and Estates who was heavily involved in the redesign of the Walled Gardens, said: “We’re immensely proud to have achieved international recognition for the beautiful gardens and spaces throughout Raby Castle’s grounds and I’d like to extend my thanks and congratulations to both Luciano and Alistair. The spaces they have created are elegant, tranquil and perfectly encapsulate the fascinating heritage of Raby.”

Raby Castle’s Walled Gardens have also been nominated for the Historic Houses 2025 Garden of the Year Award. Sponsored by Christie’s, The Garden of the Year Award recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal.

Dickon Harding, gardens and landscape manager at Raby Castle said: “The gardens team have worked exceptionally hard to maintain the impressive vision of both Luciano and Lady Barnard, ensuring the five-acre space continues to flourish as they had hoped and envisaged.

“It’s been wonderful to see how the three different areas within the Walled Gardens have matured over the different seasons, and we feel an immense sense of pride that we get to work in such a peaceful and beautiful place, steeped in history. Winning the Garden of the Year Award would be a brilliant achievement and thank you to everyone who has already voted for Raby in this category.”

Raby is one of eight shortlisted gardens, chosen from among the hundreds of gardens, parks, and grounds that offer free entry to members of Historic Houses, the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles, and gardens, and voting is open now.

To vote for Raby Castle, Park and Gardens in Historic Houses’ 2025 Garden of the Year Award, please visit: www.historichouses.org/vote-goya/

For more information about Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle

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