Flower shows prove to be another blooming success

Tenterden and District Horticultural Society members put on a show of flowers, fruit and vegetables that “defied the weather”.

A total of 28 exhibitors filled the society’s autumn show at Highbury Hall with 207 displays.

Lindy Bates was awarded the Brissenden cup for most points in the dahlia classes, plus the Yorke cup and Webb cup for chrysanthemums and first-time rose exhibitor Bridget Craig was presented with the David Barmes salver.

Martin Weeks won t he Colquhoun cup for most points in vegetable classes, while another star of the horticultural section was David Eddison.

Cathy Dalton and Martin Weeks were winners in the fruit classes, while Stephanie Buttler starred in the floral arts category, alongside Jan Page who also won the Judges cup for cookery

Jill Barsley and Lindy Bates triumphed in the photographic section, while young Issac Weeks was the under-sevens’ champion and Goodwin cup winner.

■ Meanwhile, Rolvenden Gardening Society showcased dahliahs, fuschias and sedums, which were among the 181 exhibits on view at the autumn show in the village hall. Quirky flower arrangements in shoes saw some imaginative displays, with Paul Bridger winning the category,

The vegetable classes featured a large number of onions, shallots and tomatoes, while the cookery class saw orange shortcake pie among the creations, with Cynthia Crowley gaining three firsts in the category.

Rolvenden Pre School children created Halloween masks and four Rolvenden Primary School pupils entered an arrangement using greenery and berries.

■ Elsewhere, Sissinghurst castle gardens provided the backdrop for a National Trust group’s anniversary celebrations.

The Tenterden district association has reached its 25th milestone birthday and members gathered at the foot of Vita Sackville-West’s writing tower for the occasion.

They were welcomed by the site’s general manager Philip Barnes who thanked the group for raising more than £23,000 in 10 years of fundraising and a total of £81,500 for the Trust in the quarter of a century since the Tenterden branch came into being.

Guest of honour, architect John Sell gave a speech.

Stephanie Buttler with her floral display reflecting fireworks at Tenterden

Patience and Rosie Halifax at the Rolvenden display

Bridget Craig with her roses at Tenterden

Michael Clout with his first prize dahlias at Rolvenden