Blooming marvellous Walpole gardening show

Gardening enthusiasts beat the soggy English summer weather to put on a good display at an annual show.

Entries in the Walpole Gardeners’ Club annual flower and produce show were down compared to last year, but chairman Gillian Gosling said there was still plenty for visitors to see.

“It was quite a success,” she said of the event, which was held at Walpole St Peter village hall.

“We thought it was going to be ignored at the start and then all of a sudden we were nearly trampled with the rush through the door.

“All classes were well-represented and entries were good considering all the wet weather we’ve had.”

The club’s 15th annual show boasted a variety of classes, which were all judged to Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) standards.

Categories included vegetables, fruit, flowers, art and baking and, for the first time, there was a craft class, too.

Mrs Gosling said: “There were loads of entries in the craft section, it was really good. We had everything from woodwork to knitting. I think next year we will have to be more specific and have more than one category.”

Visitors also enjoyed tasty home-made cakes, hot refreshments and a book and plant stall.

Green-fingered Neil McClean stole the day after winning the vegetable cup, and the overall winners’ cup.

The club’s youngest member, Joe Rabicano, won the fruit cup, Kay Argent the patio pot competition, Mrs Gosling the flower cup and Beryl Bradbrook scored a hat-trick with wins in the floral arrangement, art and greetings card categories.

Anne Scott won the kitchen and baking class, Suzanne Lyons the craft section, and the speciality award for effort went to event helper Harry Newman for all his support on the day.