The Spring Show was held on Saturday 19th March at Upwey Memorial Hall.

Entries were down to 167 probably due to the recent weather,however, the 29 exhibitors produced a wonderful display of colour and scent.

The flower arrangements were beautiful as always with the Judge commenting on the high standard.

The cookery, handicrafts and children’s classes were well supported and again the standard was high.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Junior Cup, Highest Points, Children’s Classes   Shared by   Lizzy and George Gant

Downer Cup. Best Photographic Print

Gina Marshall

Nottington Cup. Best Exhibit, Handicrafts     Alison White

Littlemead Cup. Highest Points, Preserves and Cookery, excluding Class 68             Chris Warner

Ridgeway Cup. Highest Points, Propagation                 Bill Howarth

Shield. Highest Points, Novice Section                           Anna Banks

Best Exhibit, Floral Art                                                 Ruth Howarth

Grandshaw Cup. Highest Points, Pot Plants                 Bill Howarth

Golds Candelabra. Best Exhibit, Pot Plants, excluding bulbs    ”

Golds Shield. Best Exhibit, Bulbs in Pots                                   ”

Ladies’ Spring Cup. Highest Points, Sections 1 to 6   Shared by                                          Pat Honess  and Anna Banks

Spring Show Cup. Runner up to Highest Points, Sections 1 to 6                                        Shaun Vallard

Benson Cup. Highest Points, Sections 1 to 6                Bill Howarth

Shield. Best Exhibit, Class 23                                                  ”

Silver Trophy. Best Exhibit, Other Cut Flowers, excluding Class 23                                    Bill Howarth

Two Diploma Awards for Daffodil Classes  RayHayward and Eric Pickard

Best Bloom in Daffodils                                Ray Hayward with ‘Banker’

Medal for Best Vase in Show                                          Ray Hayward                            

Broadwey and Upwey Daffodil Championship Salver   Ray Hayward

JUDGES

Daffodils, Mr D Phillips
Horticulture, Mr. D. Luther
Floral Art, Mrs S Bendall
Cookery, Handicrafts, and Children’s Classes, Natalie Green   Photography, Mr. J. Downer

This month started with a very well attended meeting on the 3rd when Becky Groves spoke to us about setting up her Little Groves Nursery in Beaminster.

She has an established background in the horticultural business having been brought up on the Groves Nurseries in Bridport.

Her illustrated talk began with information about the Nursery in general and then she went into more detail about the herbs.

Her knowledge and enthusiasm were inspirational and her Nursery is well worth a visit.

Spring Show                                                      

The major event this month is, of course, the Spring Show on Saturday 19th and preparations are well in hand.

Please try to enter something and get your entry forms in by 16th.  You can also enter by e-mail, see the Show page for details and the schedule.

A.G.M.

We are also looking ahead to the A.G.M. on April 14th.

If you have any items for the Agenda, please let the Secretary know on 816915 by 31st March.

Please also remember that we need more committee members and a new Chairman.(See previous News item)

Our next meeting is on March 3rd when Becki Groves will be telling us all about herbs.

Our February talk by the R.S.P.B. was both interesting and enjoyable. As well as hearing about garden birds and listening to wonderful birdsong, we were told about the valuable conservation work done for wildlife in general.

We are fortunate to have three nature reserves locally in Weymouth and at Arne near Wareham.

Members are reminded about the Spring Show on March 19th and the A.G.M. on 14th April when we hope for some new Committee members.

We hope you have all had a good Christmas and wish you a very happy New Year.Our meetings resume on February 4th with a talk by the R.S.P.B. on introducing birds to our gardens. This should be very interesting and informative.

Our Spring Show in March will soon be upon us and now is a good time to study the schedule to see which classes you could enter. If you haven’t already received your copy, these will be available at the February and March meetings, or contact the Show Secretary.

Looking ahead to the A.G.M. in April, our Chairman, Adrian Bates will not be seeking re-election due to a change in his personal circumstances.  We will therefore need nominations for this post so please give it some thought.

We are also in need of new committee members. It is always good to have new people with different ideas to keep the Society fresh and moving forward. If you feel that you would like to join the committee in any capacity, please feel free to discuss this with any of the present members who will be on hand at the February and March meetings.

Alternatively, you can e-mail join@budhs.org.uk  .

Twenty-five members attended the Christmas meal at the Hix Academy at Weymouth College on 3rd December.  This was a very enjoyable occasion with excellent food prepared and served by the students.  The venue was superb and can be highly recommended.

Following the meal, the raffle was drawn for the Teddy Bear, kindly donated by Eric and Pat Manton.  The lucky winner was Pat Honess.

Our Society entered this competition and the results have now been published. These two images, entered by Ros Gant, both gained third prize in their category. Well done to Ros.

The first one is entitled ‘Spied upon Gardener in Action’, you may recognise Ray Hayward labelling his exhibits at our Spring Show.

The second one, ‘Garden Friend or Foe’. is an entry in the Children’s classes at our show.

Full results can be found on the DFHS web-site ; dfhs.btck.co.uk/

The lunch arrangements are as follows;

Arrive at 12.30pm for 1pm start.

Our Chairman, Adrian, has twelve parking permits available for the main car park or the overspill at Lodmoor.

These will be obtainable in Reception from Adrian on arrival. However, if you would like one in advance, please ring Adrian on 813853 to arrange collection.

On arrival you will be given a name card with your menu choices before sitting where you choose.  There will be three tables of six and one of eight at the far end of the restaurant.

The staff will then go round each table and take note of the choices so that each table can be served together.

Drinks can be purchased on arrival or after you have taken your seat.

We hope you have an enjoyable time.

Kay Townsend, a member of a long established family of Showmen, gave a fascinating talk on Fairgrounds during the war years. She told us that fairs were allowed to continue during the wars to keep up morale. There were restrictions on times and lighting but people could enjoy enjoy the fairs and forget their worries for a short time.

She has written several books on various aspects of the Showmen’s lives, having done a lot of research on the subject.

A very enjoyable evening !

The Harvest Supper held on 1st October was a success with 41 members enjoying a ploughman’s supper followed by apple cake and cream.

Martin Young, of Nectar Plants, then gave an interesting and informative talk on planting in shaded areas.

Our next meeting is on 5th November when we welcome Kay Townsend. She will be telling us about Fairgrounds during and between the wars.

Menus for the Christmas lunch will be available and places will need to be booked and paid for in advance. If you are unable to attend the November meeting but would like to come to the meal, please choose from the following menu and ring Adrian on 813853 or any other committee member. The cost is £17 to include gratuities.

Christmas Lunch Menu

       Fifteen members provided 41 exhibits for the Inter – Society Show at Tarrant Keyneston on 20th September.  We won 35 prizes  including 15 1st, 9 2nd and 10 3rd ranging from vegetables and fruit, pot plants and flowers to cookery and preserves. Some of the prize winning exhibits are pictured.

The Society won three Special Awards ;

The Harry Dawes Trophy for Best Pot Plant Exhibit

The Joy Collins Cup for Best Cactus Exhibit ( A collection of three)

The RHS Banksian Medal for the highest points in the Horticulture class es.

We gained 3rd prize in a close competition in the Homecraft Collection of five exhibits, only two points less than the winner. The Damson Jelly scored 10 out of 10! Our theme was A Tribute to the Women’s Institute in their Centenary Year.