Despite all of the winter and spring rain, Frensham & Dockenfield Horticultural Society had another successful spring show. 

The society received 189 entries, an increase from last year’s 166.

The society is always keen to attract entries from non-members, as well as members, to their shows and it was good therefore to see that the open classes once again very well supported.

President of the society, Caroline Plant, opened the presentation ceremony by thanking all the exhibitors and visitors for another successful show and introduced Sarah Squire, chairman of the family-owned Squires Garden Centres.

She thanked Sarah for the generous support of Squires mentioning that the sponsorship money helps towards the costs of putting on the show including judges’ fees and hall hire. Sarah also kindly agreed to present the trophies. 

Sarah commented: “Last year you had to contend with the very harsh frozen weather which killed many a shrub and I was pleasantly surprised at how you managed to put on a fantastic show and this year you have had to contend with a mild but extremely wet weather, and it was pleasing to see that once again you put on a show with such quality and quantity of the exhibits.”

The home industries section again proved very popular and provided a good number of high-quality entries.

Judge Kate Shipton commended the quality of all the home industries exhibits and in particular the oven glove made by Sharon Bleach. Having compared this to all the winning exhibits in the show, the judges were unanimous in awarding this exhibit the Darling Cup for exhibit of highest merit in the whole show. This is the first time in many years that a home industries exhibit has won best in show. Sharon was, however, just pipped to the Barnes Cup for most points in home industries by competitive Penny Hearn.

Annabel Sommerfelt continued her dominance of the Huitfeldt Cup, winning for a third year in succession for best floral arrangement for her interpretation of the floral class ‘Sparkling Gold’. She was also awarded the Wood Cup for the best exhibit in classes 19 (shrubs) and 20 (the Diver Cup) for highest points in the flowers and shrubs section.

Simon Bleach won his first cup in a society show, The Peattie Cup for the best exhibit in classes 39-42 (photography).

The other winners were.

Frensham Spring Cup, judged the best exhibit in classes 5-9 (daffodils): Penny Hearn

Pat Mattin Cup, the best floral arrangement in the Junior Section: Lily Easton

Dene Cup, highest points for a junior: Imogen Huband

Most exhibits: Kate Atkin

Lastly, the worthy winner of the People’s Choice award, first introduced in 2022 and voted for by the show visitors from a selection of exhibits chosen by the judges, was won by Stuart Easton for his basket of dried vegetables.

Many thanks to the judges, Kate Shipton, Elizabeth Barralet, Annabel Chaplin and Simon Claiden.

Report by Neil Mumford and photographs by Neil Mumford and Caroline Plant