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The SoundGuide: an audio guide to Harrogate's beautiful parks & gardens The SoundGuide can be downloaded on to your iPod, MP3 player or mobile phone. It comprises narrative at 11 ‘listen points’ around the town and lasts for just short of an hour. The listen points are all clearly marked in sequence on lampposts and provide a pleasant stroll through the main gardens of the town. Download direct from www.moguide.com To listen on your mobile phone call 0905 644 1423. Calls charged at your normal rate Innovations in floral features and designs have helped Harrogate take many floral firsts – including being the only town ever to win the Europe in Bloom top award twice. The latest innovation is embracing modern technology to help visitors get even more from Harrogate’s floral heritage. And Harrogate in Bloom believes this is unique in this country and will give Harrogate another first. Although others are using audio for floral trails – including
the Sensory Trust – With the help of Sir Thomas Ingilby of Ripley Castle, Harrogate has launched its new ‘audio floral trail’, using technology more associated with teenagers mad about music – such as iPods and MP3 players. What’s more, the idea has been developed and delivered by members of Harrogate in Bloom. The idea is the brainchild of the Group’s Tony Sissons who has for a number of years been responsible for administering Harrogate's Floral Trail, which visitors follow by looking out for a number of plaques positioned around the town. Tony is in the garden tour business and has used computers and the Internet to run his small business for over twenty years. The arrival of the iPod and MP3 players sparked his imagination and seemed to be the answer to the Group’s desire to freshen up the Floral Trail which had become a little tired. Tony said: "Many people use audio headsets when visiting stately homes so I thought that if people could take themselves around a garden using downloaded scripts to their iPods or MP3 players, there would be no need for them to be herded as groups in set-piece tours. They could see what they want, when they want. This must surely apply to visitors to Harrogate.” Gathering together friends with the necessary skills, Tony has established a SoundGuide to the Harrogate Floral Trail. Mike Hine, retired Harrogate Tourism Manager and regular contributor to Talking Newspapers, is the lead narrator giving interesting insights into the town's history. He is assisted by Deb Wright of Harrogate Council’s Parks Team, who explains the planting around the town and gives interesting facts about the size and scope of the seasonal tasks facing the Parks Team. Volunteer Des Kinsman who retired after many years in the audiovisual production business did the crisp recording and mixing. The printed map which goes with the SoundGuide was designed by volunteer Graham Spink whose day job as a postman uniquely qualifies him for the task.
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