These stunning images show three wells decorated with artistic designs as part of a 700-year-old tradition – using thousands of plucked PETALS.
The three wells that are situation in a spa town were adorned with intricate designs by 50 volunteers who plucked the thousands of petals.
Hundreds of hours were spent creating the artistic displays in Buxton, Derbys., including one well dedicated to children’s author Roald Dahl.
A well dressing is an artistic display created from natural materials which are applied to a base of clay.
Designs are built from the bottom upwards with the petals arranged like roof tiles.
John Moss, a volunteer at the Buxton Well Dressing Festival, said: “So many people work so hard to make these masterpieces.
“It is not a case of one person doing everything, they take hundreds of hours to make but everybody does a little bit and people pull together with community spirit to do a few hours which is great.”
Flowers are selected for both colour and lasting quality.
Popular flowers are the hydrangea, carnations, chrysanthemums and gerberas.
The Market Place Well depicts Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, marking 100 years since the birth of the great storyteller Roald Dahl.
In honour of 2016 being the ‘Year of the English Garden’, the St Ann’s Well in the Crescent features a beautiful floral design including many favourite English garden flowers.
The Taylor Well at the top of Spring Gardens – also known as the Children’s Well – was designed by Buxton Community School pupils, and this year features a design of birds on flowers.
John added: “They are very beautiful and although we had a bit of difficulty putting them up because of the bad weather they look great which is the main thing and we have had some fantastic feedback which is great.”
The weather will dictate how long the displays last but it is normally about a week.
Well dressing started as a pagan custom in the village of Tissington, Derbys., in 1349.
The origins of the tradition are said to lie in giving thanks for the purity of the water drawn from certain wells during the Black Death.
The tradition was introduced in Buxton in 1840.
This year, the Buxton Well Dressing Festival is being held from 3rd-11th July.
