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."
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