THE new year will be one of celebration for members of an award-winning gardening club as it marks its 75th anniversary.

Formed in 1942 as part of the Second World War ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign, the Slimbridge Home Food Production Club (now Slimbridge Gardening Club) has been encouraging village residents to pick up their trowels ever since.

From humble beginnings when its members were helping to convert flower beds and lawns for potato-growing the club has become one of the best in the region – winning an award at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1999. 

Peter Ballard, a member for 50 years, has a copy of the schedule for the first Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Show held in Slimbridge on August 29, 1942, when there was a class for such things as bottled fruit and a bunchcollection of vegetables grown by a schoolboy.

Nowadays the club hosts two popular shows each year – one in spring and one in summer – with categories extending beyond gardening to cookery, crafts and photography.

Until 2012 the club was known as Slimbridge Horticultural Society and as a horticultural society affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, members submitted exhibits to national shows including Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and Malvern Garden Show whilst exhibits were also entered at a range of local shows.

At Chelsea Flower Show in 1999 the society was awarded a bronze medal for a window box and matching hanging basket.

Club secretary Mary Sealey said that the fact that the club had been running continuously for so long was a testament to the hard work of members over the years.

“Since I first joined as a member we have done a lot of work to modernise the club, by updating show classes and introducing sponsorship amongst other things.

“The fact that the club has been running continuously for so long in the village whilst some others have folded or stopped briefly is pretty good and says a lot about the dedication of our members.”

Now rebranded as Slimbridge Gardening Club, members will kick off the milestone year at its AGM at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 10 which will feature a ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ with a panel of gardening experts on hand to answer any question before refreshments fitting of a 75th anniversary celebration are served. Visitors are welcome to attend for a £3 entry fee.

The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month between September and May and its popular plant sale will take place on May 13 and a coach trip is planned for July 1.

A £10 membership fee is charged with refreshments offered at each meeting.

The club is particularly keen to encourage the next generation of gardeners and over the past year has been working in collaboration with Slimbridge Scouts group to maintain planters at the village hall and in helping  them to grow vegetables and flowers in raised beds for their badges.

Children’s classes are also available at the club’s two shows.
For further details of the club’s forthcoming events visit slimbridgegc.pnyhost.com