Gardening and Craft Show
Gill Heath writes below on the success of the weekend.
Over the last few decades the annual Gardening & Craft Show (formerly The Gardeners’ Weekend) has become a familiar fixture in the Thaxted calendar. This year the Show was buzzing with activity in its new venue, the United Reformed Church in Bolford Street. The Show has always been vibrant and active with many exhibits, but this year we received nearly 600 exhibits from people of all ages, making this a huge, 40% increase on recent years. This surpassed all our expectations and made a magnificent, colourful and abundant display in the airy and light space within the Church.
The organising committee was delighted to see many new faces at the Show, both entering and visiting, with many of these from the Thaxted Gardening Club, now at the end of its second successful year, and from the long-established Thaxted Flower Club. The exhibitors and visitors this year loved the good access by car and the easy availability of car parking and of water (especially those showing flowers). When the Show opened to the public, on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday, the URC was full, indeed thronging on occasion, with visitors from Thaxted and the surrounding area, all enjoying the impressive display and having a lovely time making the most of the opportunity to chat and swap ideas and tips for growing, making and baking.
We are already planning the 2012 Show, and many thanks go to the URC for letting us stage it there once again, on 15th and 16th September. Responding to visitor comments, one innovation we are considering for 2012 is to have a stall to sell produce and plants, which will help with fundraising, so do bear this in mind when planning your planting for next year or if you find yourself with too many seedlings at any stage!
The Show could not give so much pleasure to so many people without all the help we receive during the year. All the contributions are much appreciated and make the Show a community event which celebrates all the growing, making and baking that goes on in and around Thaxted. The committee would like to send sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped either with fundraising, sponsorship or by giving their time; the list is long! Many thanks go to the URC community for allowing us to use their beautiful building and in return we hope they had the most magnificent Harvest Festival display for years!
This year we raised money to fund the Show and thanks go to everyone who helped with this either by sponsorship, donation or attending the Quiz Night we held in May. We are very grateful to our sponsors - Yardley’s Charity, The Parish Council, the Thaxted Flower Club and individuals who made personal donations too. Many people gave their time to organise, set up, marshal and dismantle the Show and their tireless work is much appreciated, and last but not least, thanks to all the Judges!
We know from the many comments received that you all enjoyed yourselves and look forward to seeing you again at next year’s Show – if anyone would like to help in any capacity, please do talk to any of the committee, Sue Freeman, Gill Heath, Robert Hoy, Chris Kitchin or Richard Saych.
