Yorkshire & North East – Newby Hall Event

Following on from the recent golf day at Rudding Park, we are looking forward to hosting a day of inspiration, insight and connection at the stunning Newby Hall, Ripon. 

Dean Bolton-Grant, an award-winning designer and landscaper, will be sharing his expertise and perspective on creating exceptional outdoor spaces - bringing both creative and commercial insight to the day.

The experience will also include:

A talk from Lee Bestall from Bestall & Co on the industry and the next decade
A guided tour of the renowned Newby Hall gardens, led by the Head Gardener Lawrence Wright
A relaxed networking lunch in a truly inspiring setting
This event is designed to bring together like-minded professionals from across the landscaping and design community - offering inspiration, practical insight, and the chance to connect in one of the UK’s most beautiful horticultural environments.

You will also have the opportunity to explore Urban Grow’s carefully curated range of premium gardening and outdoor living products, sourced from across Britain and Europe with a focus on quality and sustainability.

On the day

11.00am - 11.30am - Welcome and coffees

11.30am – 12.15pm - Dean Bolton-Grant, Urban Grow Talk

12.15pm – 1.00pm – Lee Bestall, Bestall & Co – The Landscape is dead/Why the Next Decade Belongs to Social Media Companies That Build Companies

1.30pm – 2.00pm - Lunch, cold buffet lunch 2 courses

2.00pm – 3.30pm -  Tour of gardens with Newby Hall Head Gardener, Lawrence Wright

3.30pm – 4.30pm - Networking at Urban Grow showroom

Newby Hall

The gardens at Newby Hall have evolved over more than three centuries, reflecting changing tastes and the vision of successive owners. Originally laid out in the late 17th century by head gardener Peter Aram for Sir Edward Blackett, the formal design featured grand avenues, traces of which remain today, including the Lime Avenue. In the Victorian era, William Burges introduced enhancements such as the extended Statue Walk, adding architectural character to the landscape. However, the gardens as seen today are largely the creation of Major Edward Compton in the 20th century, who established the striking central axis of double herbaceous borders and “garden rooms,” inspired by Hidcote Manor. Following a period of decline, the gardens were lovingly restored by Mr and Mrs Robin Compton, whose dedication earned national recognition and helped shape Newby into one of the country’s finest horticultural destinations. Today, under the care of the current generation and a skilled gardening team, the gardens continue to thrive, combining historic design with thoughtful planting to create a beautiful and enduring landscape for the future.

Urban Grow

Urban Grow, curators of premium gardening and outdoor living products, combine quality, sustainability, and thoughtful design. Working with trusted manufacturers and growers across Britain and Europe, they source products that help transform outdoor spaces - whether that’s a compact urban terrace or a large-scale landscape project.

Beyond supplying exceptional products, Urban Grow works closely with a network of allied industries, including landscapers, designers, developers, and hospitality professionals to support the successful delivery of their projects. Through these partnerships, they offer preferential rates and tailored sourcing solutions, helping our clients improve margins without compromising on quality or sustainability.

Their approach is collaborative and commercially focused: providing access to carefully selected products that elevate the end result. By bridging the gap between supply and application, Urban Grow enables their partners to deliver better outdoor spaces - more efficiently and more profitably.

Driven by a passion for modern horticulture and responsible sourcing, Urban Grow is committed to making high-quality outdoor living more accessible, while supporting the professionals who bring these spaces to life.

Lee Bestall

Lee Bestall is an award-winning British garden designer, entrepreneur and educator, best known as the founder and creative force behind Bestall & Co Landscape Design, the Sheffield-based landscape design studio recognised for creating some of the North of England’s most distinctive residential gardens. Often referred to as “The Northern Designer”, Lee has built a reputation for combining bold geometry, immersive planting and atmospheric lighting to create outdoor spaces that transform the way people live and interact with their homes. His work has earned awards at RHS flower shows including Chelsea, winning his first RHS Gold in his home town during RHS Wentworth 2025.

Over the past two decades, Lee and his team at Bestall & Co have developed a multi-award-winning practice specialising in premium garden design, planting and landscape transformation across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Alongside his design work, Lee has become a respected voice within the gardening industry through television, radio, public speaking and his growing social media platform, where he shares practical, accessible advice to inspire a wider audience to engage with garden design. His approach blends creative ambition with real-world usability, championing landscapes that are not only visually striking, but deeply personal and made to be lived in.

Lawrence Wright

Trained at Brooksby Melton College, Chatsworth House and RHS Garden Wisley. Charter Institute of Horticulture Young Horticulturist of the Year in 2016. Head Gardener at Newby Hall since October 2021. Additionally, a member of RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group and Harrogate Flower Show Judge.