Pearl anniversary for Badenoch gardeners
Badenoch Gardening Club celebrates a very special anniversary on Saturday (August 20).
After 30 years the club’s annual show is still going strong.
At a time when village flower and produce shows are declining there is still enthusiasm and support in Badenoch.
The very first show was held in Newtonmore on August 23 1986, together with the Badenoch and District Floral Art Club. There were 147 entries and the entries rose to 191 in the following year.
Shows have been held every year since then, and last year there were 300 entries.
Long-term current members who were exhibiting at the show in 1997 and have continued ever since include Marielle Barclay, who won trophies for best flower in show and most points in the flower section; Kathryn Main, who won the trophy for flowering pot plant, and Kate Downie and Sue Thomas, who won places in preserves and pot plants and potatoes respectively.
The most senior current member, Mary Macrae, won most points in the flower section and best sweet pea - 10 years later in 2007 she was still winning trophies, for best flower in show and best sweet pea.
This year the club has new sections. One is for home-produced beverages and another is school competition for a scarecrow
Entries are welcomed from anyone.
Contact is Fran Raw (01540 670007), or download from www.laggan.eu/bgc-show
The doors open at 2.00pm at Newtonmore Village Hall.