TWO Ryedale businesses were named winners at the Visit York Awards 2011.

Yorkshire Lavender at Terrington was named winner of Visitor Attraction of the Year category. Founder Nigel Goodwill said: “It has always been our aim to provide visitors with spectacular, inspiring and thoughful gardens where they can relax and enjoy the tea rooms and gift shop.”

The award follows an accolade given last year by Ideal Home magazine in which Yorkshire Lavender was named one of the country’s five specialist gardens.

It also achieved a gold award in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards for the fourth successive year.

A new feature this year is The Stream Garden which is planted with varieties of lavender which flourish near moisture.

Meanwhile, Low Penhowe, Burythorpe, won Guest Accommodation of the Year for the fourth successive year – once with Welcome to Yorkshire and now three times with Visit York.

Christopher Turner, who runs Low Penhowe with his wife, Philippa, said: “We probably generate about £500,000 into the local economy.”

Bookings are already up five per cent on last year, he added.

Low Penhowe has also won several major awards for its breakfast menu since ity opened.