Yateley and District Garden Society has served Yateley and its surrounding villages for 50 years by encouraging people to take up and enjoy gardening. It held its 50th Anniversary annual Show on Saturday 26 August and our friendly show attracted 275 entries from 48 exhibitors which filled St Peters Church and Hall with superb exhibits of vegetables, flowers and handicrafts.
In spite of the weather being so variable this summer, there was a colourful display of flowers with the floating flower head attracting the most entries. Vegetables on the other hand have benefitted from the changeable weather and there was a very good selection of potatoes, runner beans and tomatoes and a record number of baskets containing 5 different types of vegetables.
There were imaginative interpretations of three flower arrangement themes - “autumn in mind”, “blood and bandages”, and “flowers with driftwood”. The handicraft section had some striking exhibits including drawings in pencil and ink, a hand crafted walking stick, embroidered patchwork and handmade jewellery. Cake categories included cheese scones, coffee and walnut sponge, lemon drizzle and boiled fruit cake. There was also an excellent selection of jams, jellies, marmalade, chutneys and pickles.
For the 3rd year running Ken Cook won the Brooks Trophy for the most points in Show, Juliet Breschinsky the Society Cup for the most points in the Floral Art section. Mary Lillicrap won the Kent Trophy and her exquisite beadwork chess set was the overwhelming vote for the People’s choice.
Visitors enjoyed refreshments of freshly baked cakes and teas which rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable and successful anniversary show.