About the Long Ashton Horticultural Society
What we do
View a gallery of past events or see our full schedule of future activities here.
Garden visits. Close to 'home', our members sometimes invite us to visit their gardens in LA. And we also have occasional 'away' visits as a group to gardens like Middlecombe, Tyntesfield, Lady Farm, Bristol Cathedral (pictured), the Japanese Garden or Penny Brohn.
Talks and demonstrations. Stuck indoors in the winter months? Worry not, we have a programme of talks, demonstrations and hands-on tutorials to both entertain and inform us! There's always something new for even experienced gardeners to learn.
Regular features. Our annual show has a page of its own. But we also run a plant sale (pictured) outside the Co-Op each spring. And there's more, like the monthly newsletter to members, discounts at local garden centres, and free gardening advice on tap!
History of the Society and the Show
The Society is run on a voluntary basis by a committee. View the committee members here.
Like what you see and want to join the Society? Click here for details.
1918...
Although the Long Ashton Flower Show has roots stretching back to 1880, the Show in its present form originated in 1918/19. In September 1918, as the First World War ended, at a meeting of The Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (a friendly society) “The question of holding a Flower Show for the benefit of members” was discussed. Over the coming months arrangements were made for the Flower Show to take place in 1919 to raise money for a distress and relief fund. Many members of The Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds served in the armed forces during the First Wold War, sadly a number of them were never to return to Long Ashton.
In February 1919 the organising committee agreed to be called “The Long Ashton Horticultural Society”, with the first Flower Show scheduled to take place on 4th August 1919.
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1919 – 1929
The date of the first Show coincided with the North Somerset Agricultural Society’s show and it was decided to hold the two events together in Ashton Park. There were often disagreements between the two societies. Consequently, the 1927 Flower Show was abandoned and in 1929 the two societies separated.
1930 – 1950
In 1936, the Royal British Legion joined with the Horticultural Society to assist in organising sporting events and dancing as part of the Show. 1939 was the last Show to take place before the Second World War intervened. The Show returned in 1946 and the Horticultural Society and the British Legion worked together organising events until 1950.
1960s
For several years during the 1960’s, the Show was opened by stars of the stage and TV. They included Beryl Reid, Hugh Lloyd, Patricia Bredin (first United Kingdom representative in the Eurovision Song Contest) and entertainer Mrs Mills.
1974 - Gardeners’ Question Time
In 1974, members of the Long Ashton Horticultural Society put their questions to Fred Loads, Bill Sowerbutts, Chris Brickell and Michael Barratt.
2026 will be our 100th Show!
What special events may that bring...?
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Since 1919 there have been many unusual competitions and classes, these have included;
• Collection of Queen Wasps,
• Collection of White Butterflies,
• Ladies Ankle Competition,
• Mixed Musical Chairs,
• Tug-O-War,
• Guess the Weight of The Pig (Prize being the pig),
• Boxing Tournament,
• as well as the traditional Fruit, Vegetable and baking classes.