Society offers autumn show handbook

The Verwood and District Horticultural Society have released a revised handbook online for their Autumn Show on September 9. The show had previously been announced for members-only with a limited number of classes, but the new committee has opened the show for the public to exhibit, with a view to encouraging pre-Covid community involvement. Thanks to a number of generous local businesses, the society has been able to offer £20 vouchers for the Best Exhibits in each of the categories, as well as toy shop vouchers for the children’s sections.

As well as the popular flower arranging, floral, vegetable and fruit growing categories, the new handbook has added the photography classes with themes of “Water”, “Patterns in Nature”, “Close Up” and “A Historic Building”.

It is hoped that budding photographers will use the summer months capturing some images to enter.

The additional homecraft classes cover apple chutney, raspberry jam, and assorted cakes and bakes. Handicrafts include painting, cross-stitch, crochet and papercraft.

The society also has a focus on encouraging children aged three to 15 to participate. Children’s classes to be judged include a wooden spoon decorated as a scarecrow, a mini garden in a seed tray, a photograph encapsulating “The Best of Dorset” and for those who like to bake, there’s a traybake class! This is in addition to the Great Verwood Grow Off - a kids’ competition with prizes and trophies for the tallest sunflower, the longest runner bean and the heaviest courgette!

The society wants more children to get involved, to do some fun activities over the holidays, and show off their entries to the general public.

Chairman Ollie Greensmith hopes local residents will be inspired to enter.

He said: “This is a great opportunity for people to get involved in a fun competition and community event.

“With the summer holidays fast approaching, we hope people will check the handbook and prepare something to enter one of the classes - you never know, you might end up taking home a trophy or a prize voucher!”.

To support the event, the show will be open for public viewing on September 9 from 1.30pm, with trophy presentations and raffle from 4pm.

For more information, visit verwoodhorticulturalsociety. co.uk or call Ollie on 01202 827622 if you don’t have access to the internet and would like a printed copy of the handbook.