Shropshire Horticulture News
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14th OCTOBER 2025
Today i came accross a podcast about Shrewsbury Flower Show and The Shropshire Horticultural Society Charity. Quite interesting listening. My original comments are below on the 1st October if you scroll down the page.
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3rd OCTOBER 2025
Yesterday i listened to a program on BBC4 about the Black Poplar (Populus nigra).
The Black Poplar Populus nigra, is a member of the willow family. They are either male (95%) or, female (5%) and they are pollinated by the wind. They have male and female trees so they need to be fairly close together to produce seed. They also need certain conditions to germinate.
They do however hybridise readily, and you need a scientist to tell if a particular specimen is pure or mongrel.
The Darwin Tree of Life (the Shropshire connection) is tree project to analyse the genetics of species and one of these is Populus nigra. This research will find true UK specimens. To propagate up quantities you need to take cuttings from these.
Pure genetic trees are very rare: there are only 7,000 pure Black Poplars left in the UK, of which only 600 are female. Most ones left are males because the females have been cut down due to the seeds being fluffy and cause a nuisance,
Black poplars can live for 200 years. They provide food for many types of moth, the blossom is a good source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects and the seeds are eaten by birds. They produce long catkins which ripen into seed pods, which dry and open shedding quantities of white fluff!
Black poplars used to be used for the manufacture of matches, but nowadays the timber is used for artificial limbs, wine cases, shelves and toys.
1st OCTOBER 2025
The most important subject recently has been the cancellation of the 2025 Flower Show
The article below was published in the Shropshire Star on the 19th September 2025
It is now 3 months since the AGM and members have heard nothing. It is time for the people who have an interest in Horticulture in Shropshire and the businesses in Shrewsbury to step up and ask why.
Firstly i would ask the public to look at the charity documents lodged with the Charity Commission. The link is below.
The Charity lost £394,903 in the year ending 30th September 2024. It will be interesting as to what the accounts to 30th September 2025 show. I presume that there is an income from assets but none from the members because renewals of membershire have not been made. This would have been in the order of £42,000. (the only proviso i have is that perhaps the membership was to get entry to the show on 2 days and a preview to the show on the Thursday which would have cost money to stage) There is the cost of 3 staff which have been doing ? Because they did not have a show to organise and no time to actually update the Shrewsbury Show website. The message does not give a good impression.
If the Town Council has not had the dates for next years show booked then the chances of a show happening in 2026 would seem not good unless some other location has been put on the table. When i have asked about the Charity from people the general impression is that the Trustees are a small group of people who work within their own ranks and outsiders are not welcome.
The time has come for the Charity to be more open and transparent. I will probably be put down as a trouble maker but having been in Horticulture for a number of years and a Chairman of an Almshouse Charity which had also dug itself into a hole i am appalled at what i have seen.
We need to do something about Horticulture in Shropshire because it would seem that “Shrewsbury Flower Show” is not. I would like to hear from people who also have a passion for “putting roots” on things.
This is the total help which the Charity gave to Horticulture in Shropshire in year end 30th September 2024.
I would draw attention to the Charitable objects of the Charity.
(a) To promote horticultural education by holding a show or shows and competitions each year, by arranging conferences, lectures and visits to places of horticultural interest and by encouraging, improving and extending the cultivation of gardens and open spaces.
(b) To promote and assist such other charitable purposes connected with horticulture as the general committee shall from time to time determine.
(c) To promote and assist such other charitable purposes and to assist such other charitable organisations as the society shall in like manner determine (whether or not such other purposes or organisations are connected with horticulture) especially if such purpose is in the interests of the society.
I will not detract from the show but I feel the Trustees Report for 2024 is not pleasant reading and the Charity achievements are very thin in the report in supporting Horticulture in Shropshire.
The working name of Shrewsbury Flower Show shows that the name “The Shropshire Horticultural Society” has been left behind over the years and especially so in recent times.
It is time to claim it back.
1st OCTOBER 2025
Probably the best show i have been to this year was Minsterley Show. I was so impressed by the Horticultural Exhibits which were impressive for a “small” show and were, to my mind, superior to those at Shrewsbury Flower Show Amateur Section.
It gave me the impression of true “growing” enthusiasts and ranged accross all ages and the W.I. were well represented. A true rural show with all the produce and flowers “Grown in Shropshire”.
Even more interesting is the fact that 2025 it celebrated 150 years, the same as Shrewsbury Flower Show if it had been held !
A few photographs
Click for contact details
I hope you will be there next year i certainly will.
