Local Shows
Last post 10-07-2009 8:08 PM by Rosa. 0 replies.
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10/07/2009 08:08 PM
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- Rosa
- West Sussex
- 26 Jun 2009
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13
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Reading the Hampton Court thread made me think about our own (and other) local flower shows. Over the past 20 years, our shows have shrunk (as has active membership of our society) from the glory days when we had a shop and 700 plus members to the current 97. The size of the village has increased in a directly opposite ratio over the same time span. 30 years ago, the population was 4500 - now it is 10,000+. My guess is that whereas in the past villages would grow little by little - a few houses here and there - so that the newcomers were drawn into the existing community, now with piecemeal development that degree of assimilation just can't happen. Nevertheless, we persevere and still manage to put on a reasonable display. Recently we've been teaming up with nearby villages, running inter village competitions in our shows, sharing outings, the occasional social event. We have also tried to get local children involved; this year we are providing the summer playscheme with terracotta flower pots for them to decorate and then enter in the show. In the past we've involved the Beavers and also done growing your own potato for kids - pots and spuds provided. It is an uphill battle though! Are any of you involved in local groups? Are you having similar problems? And have you any brilliant suggestions on how to increase enthusiasm?
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