The thriving Bollington & District Gardening Club holds a Spring Show in March each year, as well as regular monthly meetings with speakers, workshops, the Bloomin’ Bollington Garden Party and trips to well known gardens.
Contacts
Chairman: Steve Fry 
Tel: 01625 430065
email:bollingtongardening@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Joyce Burton
Tel: 01625 572668
email: bollingtongardening@hotmail.com
Show Secretary: Martin Simmons
Tel: 01625 478027
email: bollingtonspringshow@outlook.com
The Bollington & District Gardening Club meets at 7.30 pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month (unless otherwise stated) at The Community Centre, Ovenhouse Lane, Bollington SK10 5EY. The annual subscription of £20, which includes free entry to all meetings, is due in January. Non-members pay £3.50 per meeting but they are always welcome.
We hold a Spring Show in March each year. The schedule is obtainable via the links below or from the Show Secretary.
A group of members on the trip to the West Country in 2025.
2026 Programme of Events
Thursday 15th January
Creating Mini Nature Reserves – Skylark Garden Design
Thursday 19th February
AGM & Bees – John & Carole Goodwin
Saturday 14th March
Spring Show – Civic Centre
Thursday 19th March
Arranging Flowers & Plants sustainably for the Home (Workshop) – Judith Matthews
Thursday 16th April
Will Perennial Vegetables Save the Planet? – James Ellson
Sunday 26th April
Arley Estate (Worcestershire) & Hodnet Hall Gardens – Day coach trip
Thursday 21st May
Water in the Garden – Christian Dupont
Sunday to Tuesday 7th-9th June
Three day East of England Trip
Thursday 9th July
Holehird Gardens: A Lakeland Garden for all seasons – Maggie Mees
Sunday 12th July
Bloomin’ Bollington Garden Party
Sunday 26th July
Two Lakeland Gardens – Rydal Mount & Holehird – Day Coach Trip
Thursday 20 August
Perfect Pots – Using Pots and Containers in the Garden – Maureen Sawyer
Thursday 17th September
An Introduction to Alpines – Cliff Booker
Friday 25th September
Malvern Autumn Show – Day Coach Trip
Thursday 15th October
Trees & Shrubs for the Smaller Garden – Kathryn Robey
Thursday 19th November
Howard’s Great Garden Quizzes – Howard Drury
Thursday 3rd December
Christmas Meal
Spring Show 2026
The Spring Show returns this year on Saturday 14th March 2026, at the Civic Hall, Palmerston Street, Bollington. It is FREE to enter. Certificates will still be awarded to the first, second and third prize winners.
To view the schedule, click on any of the “Schedule” links below.
2026 Schedule
Open to the public from 2.00pm to 3.45pm.
Trophies will be presented at 3.45pm by the Mayor, Cllr. Jon Weston.
You do NOT have to be a member to enter any of the classes listed in the 2026 Schedule but entries must be received by 9.00pm Wednesday prior to the show at the latest. Entries will NOT be accepted after this time, nor on the day of the show,
Children’s entries do not have to be registered and should be brought to the Civic Hall on the day of the Show. Entry form.
To register your entries you can post the entry form, email bollingtonspringshow@outlook.com or simply call Martin on 01625 478087. He will provide you with all the information you need. 2026 Schedule.
POT ET FLEUR WORKSHOP
Thursday 19th March 2026
Members proudly displaying their creations at a Pot et Fleur Workshop run by The Loose Leaf Flower School. Pot et Fleur has Victorian origins combining living house plants with cut flowers.
2026 SPRING SHOW
On Saturday the 14th March the Bollington and District Gardening Club held its 59th Spring Show—an event that remains a highlight of community life and marks the welcome arrival of the Spring/Summer season.
Bathed in beautiful sunshine, the Civic Hall saw record numbers of visitors, all greeted by the delightful scent of spring flowers. A lively atmosphere filled the hall, with a bustling plant stall, tombola, a variety of crafts, and the ever-popular tea and homemade cakes.
Awards were presented for outstanding plant arrangements, spring flowers, bulbs, and a wide range of plants. It was particularly fascinating to see the many varieties of narcissus on display. The handicraft exhibits were exquisite, showcasing creative embroidery, fashion accessories, woodwork, photography, and paintings. A particularly touching display featured tiny knitted hats and coats for premature babies.
Children were also recognised with prizes for their imaginative entries, including miniature gardens and creative animals and insects made from recycled materials. (view their entries in the photographs below.) Of course, no spring show would be complete without the cake and preserve competition, with entries that looked delicious.
The Mayor, John Weston, presented trophies and cups at the close of what was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The Gardening Club continues to thrive with an enthusiastic membership, offering monthly talks and a range of summer trips. (Details are in the events lists below).
We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Bloomin’ Bollington Garden Party on Sunday 12th July.
Maria OBrien
EVENTS 2025
CHRISTMAS MEAL 2025
The Club held a very successful annual dinner at Hollin House Hotel, where the food and service were very good and everybody enjoyed the evening. Katey Walker’s photographs of the event can be seen below,
‘Bloomin’ Bollington’ Garden Party Sunday 13th July 2025
The Bollington and District Gardening Club hosted a joyful afternoon on the recreation ground on Sunday 13th July to celebrate the winners of this year’s Bloomin’ Bollington competition. With glorious weather and a wonderful turnout, the Garden Party proved a great success.
Attendees enjoyed fun games for the children, delicious teas, plant stalls, a tombola, and support from local businesses including Happy Valley Honey, Prestbury Garden Centre, Mr Whippy Ice Cream, Bollington Borrowers, Perfectly Darling Facepainting, Inspired by Naples Pizza and Canalside Radio, all of whom contributed to the fantastic community atmosphere.
This year saw 21 entries to the Bloomin’ Bollington competition across three categories: Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants and Local Businesses. Judges found it especially difficult to choose the winners, as every entry had clearly invested significant time and creativity in their floral displays.
Category Winners:
Pubs:
- The Cotton Tree
- The Holly Bush
- The Spinners Arms
- The Turners
Cafés and Restaurants:
- The Green
- No.74 Deli
- The Mulberry Leaf
Local Businesses:
- Bollington Veterinary Centre
- Belfields Bakery
- Essential Beauty
- Loose Leaf Flower School
Sunflower Superstars
The highlight of the day was the Children’s Sunflower Competition, with winners Toby, Zoe, and Ted Lewis and Flo Bradley proudly taking home prizes for their impressive blooms.
Special Recognition
Rainow Primary School and St John’s Primary School were awarded special recognition for the outstanding work of their gardening clubs. The judges were especially impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and their impressive knowledge of plants and produce.
The Bloomin’ Bollington competition and Garden Party has once again brought colour and cheer to the town. Locals and visitors alike are appreciating the beautiful displays that are making Bollington so vibrant and welcoming this summer. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported the event!
Article: Maria O’Brien
Photos: Ray Jordan
West Country Trip 8-10 June 2025
A group of Club members went on a very successful trip to visit three gardens, Hestercombe House in Somerset, RHS Rosemoor in Devon and Hidcote in the Cotswolds. Click here to read Maria O’Brien’s account of the trip and view some of Kate Walker’s photographs. Below is the group photograph taken by Ray Jordan.
Spring Show 2025
Click here to view a selection of photographs from the show.