Hello!
With the Village Show, Apple day and the AGM over, and we wrap up 2025, we’re now looking forward to next year.
Village Show 2026
Richard Holland has circulated the results of the poll, which I hope you’ve seen. The Village Show is now scheduled for Sunday July 12th – put this in your diaries!.
Thank you to those who contributed to the poll. Most people were agreed – there will be more flowers in July than August/September, and there will be fewer and different fruit and vegetables. The latter poses a challenge; we’ll alter the Schedule of Classes accordingly, and issue this as soon as we can, and at least in time for the Fish and Chips social on 17th January 2026. At the same time, we’ll offer some advice on growing early-cropping fruit and veg.
We’ve been looking at how the Flower Show entries have changed since Covid. The total number of entries has fluctuated a bit, but there has not really been a trend.
However, there is something striking when the number of entries into the horticultural section (vegetables, fruit and flowers) are compared with the entries into all the other sections. The number of Horticultural entries is falling, while entries to everything else is rising.
The trend is clearer when comparing the respective %s – as below. It is clear that the number of horticultural entries is falling, while there is growing enthusiasm in other sections.
Why? Possibly a result of the changes in the weather/climate, and there is less produce to show? Possibly a result of a changing demographic and associated skill/time to grow-and-show things? The answer is not clear. I hope that the Hort Soc can/will adapt, the weather leading up to the earlier show will help generate more produce, and the changing demographic will find a way to grow more.
Membership – changed bank account
Our membership year runs 1st January to 31st December. Our membership fee hasn’t changed for over a decade!. See the benefits of membership here, including discounts at local gardening centres and on seeds from Suttons and Kings. To help with our administration, please would you set up a standing order on the 10th January for your membership.
We changed our bank account in 2025. For those who have already set up a standing order, please CHANGE YOUR STANDING ORDER to the bank account on our membership page here.
Events in 2026
We have something planned for each month in 2026 – some in the diary, see here, and several still to be confirmed – a quiz night in February, a film and a visit to a garden to name a few.
Other local gardening organisations
You may be interested in other local similarly-minded folk. Freshford and District Gardening Club, Nature Chain and The Bath University Gardening Club all have a lot going on.
Peat free – a plea from the RHS
“We’re adding our voice to the nationwide call to end peat sales once and for all. As part of the Peat-free Partnership, we stand alongside professional growers, nature lovers and amateur gardeners to tell the government it’s time to get off the garden fence. Peatlands are among our biggest allies in the fight against climate change and provide unique habitats for wildlife. We’re calling for the UK Government to deliver on their promise and introduce legislation to protect our precious peatlands. Will you join us?” Add your voice here.
As we head into Christmas, two seasonal flowers of interest …
1. The Poinsettia.
They are symbols of good cheer and just scream Christmas time. But how did the poinsettia became such an integral part of this holiday?
The RHS has some guidance on growing them, and keeping them for next Christmas.
2. An alternative to Brussels Sprouts – Kalettes, the flowering sprout – OK, so not really a flower, but you can eat them! Kalettes are small, green and purple “flower sprouts” with curly, frilly flower-like leaves, and are delicious stir-fried. The Kalette® is an F1 cross between two real ‘Superfoods’, Brussels sprouts and British kale resulting in a vegetable with a sweet and nutty flavour. It has been created by Tozer Seeds and sold through the larger seed companies – such as Simply Seeds £1.99 for 20 seeds, Premier Seeds Direct £1.59 for 20 seeds, Suttons £3.49 for 20 seeds, but you can get 50% discount with Hort Soc membership.
Thanks for all your support this year, your enthusiasm and ideas, and especially to those who helped put on our activities. I hope to see you next year at one of our events, possibly on the 17th January 2026 at the Fish and Chips social. Until then I hope you have a joyful Christmas and New Year.
Best wishes
Hugh
Hugh Prentice
Secretary
Wellow and District Horticultural Society
Affiliated with the Royal Horticultural Society
