Gardeners and growers in the Colne Valley will celebrate the Paris Olympics and Paralympics with a special class at the 116th annual Slaithwaite & District Horticultural and Allotments Society Show.
The show will be held at Slaithwaite Civic Hall on Saturday September 7 with a host of classes which are more than just fruit, vegetables and blooms.
The Paris Olympics class is for blue, yellow, black, green and red flowers and foliage in a society vase. The colours, of course, represent the colours of the Olympic rings.
Society president Paul Webley said: “We cannot guarantee a real gold medal but I am sure the displays will be fantastic.”
The show will be opened by Netherton-based gardening expert Graham Porter.
Entries are taken between 8.30am and 11.30am on the morning of the show with judging from 12noon. The official opening takes place at 3.30pm with public viewing until 6pm.
Apart from classes in fruit, veg and flowers, there are classes for baking, honey and jam, photography, ceramics, textiles and other crafts. There are art classes for children from the ages of four to 17.
The first show was held on September 15 1906 at The Globe Inn with 66 entries in 14 classes. The show continued through two world wars and has only been cancelled once – due to the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Eric Weaving
Exhibitors of all ages, including novices, are welcomed from across Kirklees and beyond. One of the longest-serving exhibitors is Eric Weaving, now in his 80s. He started growing on his dad’s allotment at the age of 10 and became hooked.
Entry is free to the public and a must-see is the ever-popular produce auction where visitors can bag a bargain. The auction starts at 5.30pm.
Refreshments in the afternoon will be provided by members of the local WI.
For more information search for the society on Facebook.
