Welcome to the Saffron Walden Horticultural Society Web Site
A Memorial for Doreen and David Townley
Sunday 25th May 2025, 2:00 to 5:00 pm
You may already have read the sad news that Doreen Townley passed away on 14th February. Doreen was Chairman of Saffron Walden Horticultural Society for many years, supporting the society in so many ways. With her late husband David, and latterly on her own, she regularly entered our shows, notably with David's beloved daffodils. As Chairman she presided over our monthly evening meetings for many years at the Bowls Club. She also regularly hosted a summer garden party at her home in Ashdon Road, and continued to play an active role in the Society for as long as she was able. The family will hold a memorial in their garden at 49 Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden CB10 2AQ on Sunday 25th May, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, to celebrate Doreen and David’s love of horticulture and their work for the Society - all are welcome to attend.
Shows 2025
SUMMER ROSE AND FLORAL SHOW
Saturday 21st June 2025, Sewards End Village Hall
The Show Schedule of Classes and Regulations for Showing can be found here
AUTUMN FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW
Sunday 28th September 2025, Sewards End Village Hall
Schedules for the Autumn Show will be published in due course.
Other Society Events Planned For 2025
Summer Garden Party - Sunday 13th July
This is being hosted by Charlotte Heales in her garden at Lower House
Farm, Water Lane, Radwinter CB10 2TX. It’s a fairly traditional
garden, with box hedging, herbaceous planting, a greenhouse, raised
beds with soft fruit, a wildflower meadow, an orchard, and a sizable
spring-fed pond… but you may also be interested in the strawberry teas
to be served from Charlotte’s barn! Parking is available in the field
next door. We hope to see you there - it’s a wonderful opportunity to
catch up with old friends and meet other members. Garden parties were
a regular summer event in the Society’s calendar before Covid, and
we’re so pleased that Charlotte has invited us to her garden to
re-start the tradition.
A Guided Tour of the Gardens at Audley End House
We hope to arrange a special Horticultural Society visit to the
gardens at Audley End House - details to be announced.
Autumn Flower and Produce Show -Sunday 28th September
2025
Sewards End Village Hall - Schedule of Classes to be published on the
Society’s website nearer the time.
The Growing of Bridge End Gardens - Monday 13th October 2025, 7:00 pm at the Saffron Community Link - an illustrated talk by Liz Lake about the origins and restoration of Saffron Walden’s unusual “detached” Victorian garden.
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.
Committee
| Chairman | David Livermore 6 Cambridge Road, Barley, Royston SG8 8HN Tel 01763 848757 Email david.g.livermore@gmail.com |
| Treasurer | Robin Crouchman Email sueandrobinare@gmail.com |
| 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 Tel 01763 848757 Email liz.livermore@gmail.com |
| Autumn Show Secretary | Peter Cranfield |
| Committee Member | Christine Mayle |
| Committee Member | Vera Willson |
News
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
Members can now obtain a 10% discount at Beeches Nursery, Ashdon https://www.beechesnursery.co.uk/
Springwell Nursery & Garden Centre in Little Chesterford (CB10 1UE) also give Members of Saffron Walden Horticultural Society a 10% discount. https://www.visitspringwell.com/Spring newsletter
Our latest newsletter is available here
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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