Welcome to the Saffron Walden Horticultural Society Web Site


Shows 2025

AUTUMN FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW
Sunday 28th September 2025, Sewards End Village Hall

The Show Schedule of Classes and Regulations for Showing can be found here

Autumn Newsletter

Please click here to read our Autumn Newsletter


Other Society Events Planned For 2025-26


Autumn Flower and Produce Show -Sunday 28th September 2025
Sewards End Village Hall. See Shows page

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.

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 01763 848757
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
Tel 01763 848757
Email liz.livermore@gmail.com
Autumn Show Secretary David Livermore
6 Cambridge Road, Barley, Royston SG8 8HN
Tel 01763 848757
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.

Join Our Facebook Group

If you have a Facebook account, please feel free to join our Facebook group.

We hope it will be a forum for discussion of all things horticultural as well as a way of letting members know about upcoming events.

Visit our Facebook Group and send us a request to join.

To join Facebook go to www.facebook.com


For older news please see our Archive page


 

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