After some blustery showers on last Saturday (August 30) the weather picked up and the sun shone on the first Ramsgate and District Horticultural Society’s Summer Show in Vale Square.
More than 30 people took part in the horticultural competition with some 200 exhibits in total on display. There were craft stalls, a well-attended demonstration of ‘garden foraging’, and the Thanet Swifts Group attracted a lot of interest in how to help this threatened bird.
Children, as well as adults, took part, with one eight-year-old managing to snatch first place in the ‘beefsteak tomato’ category. Another youngster took first prize with his ‘vegetable monster’ in the ‘Mystery Item’ category, where he too was up against strong competition from adults.
The highlight of the afternoon was the awards ceremony with the prizes being presented by east Kent author Julie Wassmer, whose ‘Whitstable Pearl’ series is currently showing on TV. All the children who had entered received a goody bag, and the winners also received medals.
In the adult section Bunny Black and Jamie Fassam tied in overall first place in the vegetables category and Bunny also tied with Wendy Jarvis in the floral category. Jamie Fassam was named overall winner in the fruit category.
The winners will have their names inscribed on three cups that the Society has brought back into use, after they were left in the safekeeping of Ramsgate Council when the earlier incarnation of the Society folded in the 1980s.
R&DHS Chair Linda Miller said: “After the anxiety of weeks of wondering ‘If we build it, will they come’ it was such a relief to see that the day was a great success. And perhaps most importantly, one person told me ‘I heard lots of people say they have been inspired to put in entries next time’.”
Ian Venables, another R&DHS committee member, said: “The judges I’ve spoken to absolutely loved the event. Joy and Tony Whiting, who judged the vegetable and fruit categories, were still buzzing the next morning when I saw them at the allotment. They are already looking forward to judging next year’s entries.”
Next year’s show will be open to all – you do not need to be a member of the Society to take part. Over the year the Society’s monthly talks on horticultural and wildlife themes are also open to all – more information, and how to join, can be found at https://ramsgatehorticulturalsociety.uk or on the Ramsgate and District Horticultural Society facebook page.
Very nice displays.