A FLORIST from Ryedale will showcase her flowers during stage four of the Tour of Britain cycling competition in North Yorkshire.

Wendy Abbot, who runs Twig and Twine in Helmsley, will make arrangements for the four winners, as well as decorations for the podium at the race’s finish line at Duncombe Park in Helmsley, on September 7.

A keen cycling fan herself, Wendy first fell in love with the sport while watching the Tour De France.

She will now combine this love with 25-years of experience as a florist to create memorable displays for the event.

The race bouquets will be hand-tied bunches, made by gathering flowers and spiralling the stems until Wendy has created what she wants.

Wendy said: “I am very pro the race. It is fun and exciting. We get lots of visitors to Helmsley, but if they know the race is on they may spend longer here.”

Of the race displays, she explained: “I like to work seasonally and locally, if I can, to give a local look to everything I do.

“About 80 to 85 per cent of the flowers in the race arrangements will be local. That was important to me.”

Wendy has been running Twig and Twine for three years, taking over from the previous owners.

She has several local sources for her flowers, including her own allotment.

During the first Covid lockdown the florist had difficulty getting hold of all the flowers she needed, so came to an arrangement with the Walled Garden in Helmsley where she could pick what was needed for a donation.

“I’ll be picking some from the Walled Garden for the cycle race flowers,” she added.

Executive member for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “It’s great to see Wendy bringing this North Yorkshire flavour to the race with her arrangements, which will be seen around the world in TV coverage of the winners’ podium.

“I’m sure that unique North Yorkshire spirit will be reflected in towns and villages along the route as our traditional enthusiastic welcome for cycle racing helps to make this event special for all concerned, while showcasing the beauty of our county.”

Stage four of the Tour of Britain on 7 September will begin in Redcar then pass-through Whitby before heading into the North York Moors National Park.

The final 30 kilometres will feature the demanding climbs of Carlton Bank and Newgate Bank – both two kilometres long – before descending to the finish at Duncombe Park.

During the race, North Yorkshire County Council will implement rolling road closures, with closures likely to last no longer than 30 to 45 minutes to minimise disruption.

See the full details of race timings and road closures here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/tour-britain