Welcome to the Saffron Walden Horticultural Society Web Site
Autumn Newsletter
Please click here to read our Autumn Newsletter
Society Events Planned For 2025-26
A Passion for Alpines -Thursday 13th November 2025, 7:00
pm at the Saffron Community Link - an illustrated
talk by David Livermore.
David and Liz Livermore have a long-standing interest in alpine plants
and have travelled widely to see them in the wild and in botanical
gardens around the world.
Annual General Meeting - Monday 1st December 2025, 7:00
pm at the Saffron Community Link
A short business meeting will be followed by seasonal refreshments
(mince pies!) and a (non-expert) horticultural quiz.
Tropical Tresco - The Abbey Gardens -Monday 16th March
2026, 7:00 pm at the Saffron Community Link
Tresco in the Scilly Isles is famous for the sub-tropical Abbey
Garden, established in the 19th century by the then-owner of the
islands, Augustus Smith. The collections were greatly expanded in the
early 20th century by Arthur Dorrien-Smith who was a member of the
1907 sub-Antarctic Islands Expedition, and who travelled widely in New
Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The Abbey Gardens now have 20,000
plants from over 80 countries. Robin Carsberg is an experienced
speaker and RHS judge, and his talk will be fully illustrated.
Flowers From Garden to Table All Year Round - Monday 13th
April 2026, 7:00 pm at the Saffron Community Link
(Please note the change of date for this event)
A vase of flowers on the table is a lovely sight! Anna Taylor has over
20 years experience as a horticulturalist and plantswoman and writes,
talks and teaches about growing flowers to cut. She has a micro flower
farm and studio in Saffron Walden, and advocates for naturally and
locally grown cut flowers to increase our connections to nature and
reduce the huge impact of the cut flower industry. Her illustrated
talk will be about the plants we can grown in our own garden
borders to keep our flower arrangements bright - and local -
throughout the year.
Spring Flower Show - Sunday 29th March 2026
at Sewards End Village Hall
Already looking forward to the daffodils!
Summer Rose and Floral Show - Sunday 14th June 2026
at Sewards End Village Hall
… but a lot of gardening between now and then!
Committee
| Chairman | David Livermore 6 Cambridge Road, Barley, Royston SG8 8HN Tel 07815 556602 Email david.g.livermore@gmail.com |
| Treasurer | Christine Mayle |
| Membership Secretary | Hilary Shibata 4 Mount Pleasant Cottages, Debden Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4AE Email hilary@mikehibbs.net |
| Publicity Secretary | Charlotte Heales Email mrsheales@googlemail.com |
| Summer Show Secretary | Liz Livermore 6 Cambridge Road, Barley, Royston SG8 8HN Email liz.livermore@gmail.com |
| Autumn Show Secretary | David Livermore 6 Cambridge Road, Barley, Royston SG8 8HN Tel 07815 556602 Email david.g.livermore@gmail.com |
| Committee Member | Vera Willson |
News
SUMMER FLOWER SHOW 2025
In spite of the intense heat and lack of rain, Sewards End Village
Hall was full of vibrant scents and colours, and even more exhibits
than last Summer - so the Horticultural Society is on the path to
growth (which I suppose is what gardening is all about…)
Sharon Davey retained the Veerman Rose Bowl for most points in the
rose classes, and also took home the RA Butler Cup for the Other
Flower section. David Livermore’s Savoy Hotel variety won the trophy
for the best rose in the show. In the Fruit and Veg section, Peter
Cranfield won an award for most points and Hilary Shibata's broad
beans won the Russell Green Cup for the best exhibit (with special
thanks to her husband Mike Hibbs, who did most of the weeding!). Then
she also won the Walden Trophy for most points in the Domestic
Section, and the Rickett Shield for lemon Drizzle cake. But the
children’s exhibits were her personal favourites. Chloe Hollidge and
Ariella Quantrill shared the Scrivener Cup for most points in the
Junior Section, and Ariella also won the Caroline Dowling Award for
her beautiful and very realistic farm animal - a lamb with cauliflower
wool
The judges said they were very impressed by the quality of the
displays, and the Mayor of Saffron Walden, Councillor Milon Ahmed,
presented the awards, with Deputy Mayor Cllr. Jeanette Curtis
assisting.
SPRING DAFFODIL AND FLORAL SHOW 2025
For those of you who didn’t manage to get to the Show in Sewards
End, here’s a summary of the winners and runners-up, followed by some
photos, courtesy of our Chairman David Livermore:
• Dale Griffin won the Townley Trophy (most points in Daffodil Classes
1-21); the Ida Hawthorn Vase (Class 1); the Daffodil Society Medal for
the best daffodil the show (Astrid’s Memory - pictured below); and was
runner-up for the Adams Harrison Cup
• David Livermore won the Adams Harrison Cup (most points in show);
and was runner-up for the Townley Trophy, the Barnard Vase; and the
Ida Hawthorn Vase
• Vera Willson won the Barnard Vase (most points in Flower Section
Classes 22-37); and the Saffron Trophy (most points in Domestic
Section Classes 38-43)
• Helen O’Neill was runner-up for the Saffron Trophy
• Willson Quantrill won the Scrivener Cup (most points in Junior
Section Classes 44-51)
• Florence Norris won the Townley Cup (for Class 45); the Rickett
Shield (best exhibit in Junior Classes, which was her Container of
Spring Flowers); and was runner-up for the Scrivener Cup
• Ariella Quantrill was runner-up for the Scrivener Cup; and for the
Townley Cup
Mike Baxter was the official photographer at the show, and his
daffodil photos are on the Daffodil Society website at https://thedaffodilsociety.com/2025/04/saffron-walden-show-2025/.
I’m already looking forward to the Daffodil Show next year! (Date to
be announced…)
And if you’re interested in growing something a bit more unusual,
there are specialist daffodil nurseries which have a much bigger range
than you would find in a Garden Centre. Some can be expensive, but
there are also plenty of cheap bulbs to choose from. Order online for
delivery in September/October. Scamps Daffodils of Cornwall are highly
recommended (https://scampsbulbs.co.uk)
but other growers are available…
Members' discounts
Springwell Nursery & Garden Centre in Little Chesterford (CB10 1UE) give Members of Saffron Walden Horticultural Society a 10% discount. https://www.visitspringwell.com/Data Protection Policy
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came in to force on 25 May 2018. Under the new regulations, the society needs to advise members how we use the personal data that they provide as part of membership applications. You can read our full policy by clicking this link.
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