Society’s bid to save flower show tradition

10:21am Thursday 4th September 2008

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A THRIVING horticultural society has had to cancel three flower shows in a row through lack of interest - despite having nearly 1,000 members.

Wyke Regis Horticultural Society is desperate to reverse a trend which forced its summer show to be scrapped after it attracted just five exhibitors.

Arthur Sheppard, president of the Weymouth group, said: "I would hate to see the society's show tradition die.

"We are still a great success with a strong membership, but there just doesn't seem to be the interest in shows any more.

"I suppose as the years go by people take up different interests, but we are still hoping that enough people will come forward to support the idea of a show so we can continue to hold such events."

Chairman Jeff Mogg said: "There is still the interest in growing things such as vegetables, but the emphasis has changed into growing them for the Sunday lunch table, to grow them organically to be eaten rather than to grow them for show purposes.

"Shows are judged to very high standards and it needs a dedicated gardener to meet those standards.

"People still garden but increasingly they are only interested in doing enough work to get a crop in or, if it is flowers, to create a border display which looks nice enough. There is nothing wrong with this but it is not gardening to show standard."

Problems have been growing for 10 years, he said, adding: "We used to hold six shows annually for daffodils, rose and sweet pea, summer, Christmas, autumn chrysanthemum and gladioli.

"That was reduced to three for 2007 and we were left with just the daffodil and summer shows this year, both of which had to be cancelled because of lack of entries.

"It is a sad time, not just for us but for the hundreds of spectators who used to come to look at show entries.

"We still hope to hold shows next year but we need gardeners to rally round and contact me to give their support to the idea and their intention to enter. Without that we can't go ahead. My number is 01305 788845."

Other much smaller societies say they have no problem staging their shows. Dorchester, which has just 68 members, held three this year including spring flowers, rose and sweet peas and their annual show.

Show secretary John Foot said: "We had an absolutely spanking annual show which went very well.

"We also have more young women coming into horticulture and the older members are passing on their knowledge to them which is how it should be."

Broadwey, Upwey and District, which has 80 members, also had no problem staging their spring and summer shows.

Chairman Graham Brant said: "There was very keen interest. We set a very high standard and we manage to attract exhibitors from Bristol to Southampton as well as our own members. Entries were up this year and there is always a warm welcome for exhibitors."