Welcome to the Lowdham Horticultural Society!

Lowdham is a village 8 miles north-east of Nottingham with a population of about 1600, in an area with a long horticultural history: the Bramley apple was raised 6 miles distant, the apple fell on Newton's head 15 miles away!

The village amenities host a very active social calendar for the residents, who in turn give a very warm welcome to members and participants from further afield. These activities include a Cricket Club, Youth Football and Netball Teams, a Book Festival and, of course, the Horticultural Society

The Society was founded in 1893 and comprises a very active group of members covering all age ranges (including Juniors), whose interests span horticulture, handicrafts, cookery and photography.

We stage three shows a year: the Spring Show for daffodils, tulips, spring flowers and plants; an Annual Show on August Bank Holiday, including comprehensive displays of vegetables, fruit, flowers, produce, handicrafts, photography and flower arranging; an Apple Day in late Autumn presenting large collections of apples and other fruit along with apple tasting, home made jams and so on.

We take advantage of the long summer evenings to arrange visits to gardens and other places of interest. There is a Winter Programme of presentations and talks to broaden our interest and remind us of summer.

We are Affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society. Our subscription fees are low, with significant benefits including a discounted seed scheme and subsidised trips.

Dates for your diary

Winter Programme of Talks & Presentations - November 7th, December 5th, January 8th, February 27th, March 13th
Spring Show - April 4th 2009
Summer Visits 2009 - June & July
Annual Show - Monday August 31st 2009

2008 Shows

Spring Show - April 5th | Annual Show - August 25th | Apple Day - October 26th

Like most gardening years 2008 had its highlights and its challenges. With the support of our members, our exhibitors and our visitors 2008 was a very successful year for Lowdham Horticultural Society.

Following our programme of winter talks the Spring Show was full of colour with 166 entries of daffodils, tulips and spring flowers. This despite the gales and difficult weather that preceded the show and snow showers on the day of the show.

By contrast the Annual Show was held in warm, sunny weather. It attracted a record number of visitors. The marquee was filled with one of the highest number of entries from 110 entrants split 50/50 between Lowdham entrants and those from the surrounding (and wider) areas - the Produce Classes were so popular that the Stewards were kept busy creating more space to accommodate the entries!

The Flower Arranging entries provided us with stunning displays and there was a great deal of interest in the Photographic and Handicraft Sections.

Our Apple Day attracted over 1000 visitors who were able to view over 120 varieties of apples and a selection of other fruit and exhibition vegetables. Our members manning the apple tasting had to work very hard to keep pace with the requests for tasting segments and the Apple Identification Panel were kept on their toes naming the varieties presented to them by our visitors. Further interest was provided by the other stalls including fruit juicing, wood turning, bee keeping and tea tasting.

We are looking forwards to 2009 - the bulbs for the Spring Show are growing, our seeds to provide the exhibits for next year's Annual Show are ordered and the winter chill will prepare the apple trees for next year's flowers and fruit.

Thank you for your support in 2008, we hope to see you again in 2009.

Spring Show - April 4th 2009

The 2009 Spring Show will be held in Lowdham Village Hall on Saturday April 4th.

As well as the displays of daffodils and tulips there are Classes for pot plants, spring flowers and herbs. The Junior Classes include cress grown in a novel container, an arrangement of spring flowers from the garden and a decorated hard boiled egg.

Staging of the exhibits will be between 8:30 and 10:00 am and the show will open at 11:00am. Teas, coffees and home made cakes will be on sale as usual.

Copies of the Schedule will be available in the village prior to the show, if you would like an electronic copy please send an e-mail request after March 1st.

The entries can be displayed in your own vases or the horticultural vases provided by the Society. Entries in the various Classes are free of charge. Prizegiving will take place at 12:30pm and the show will close at 1:00pm - we hope to see you there.

Location

Our events are held in the Village Hall and, for the Annual Show, in a marquee erected at the side of the Village Hall. The Village Hall is in the centre of the village opposite The Old Ship public house.

The centre of the village is to the north of the traffic island where the A6097 and the A612 meet. The area's post code is NG14 7BD. Click here to view the location in Google Maps.

Contact