Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club

The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club was founded, way back in 1882, with the rather grand sounding name of The Caton and District Floral and Horticultural Society, in order to foster an interest in horticulture and to provide a community of interest in the district.

In the early days it had a full committe of very knowledgeable people and  flourished as a genuine 'Horticultural Society', the centrepiece of it’s annual calendar being a full blown 'mini Chelsea' Show.

Unfortunately, over the last decade or so of 20th century, the experienced members of the committee were becoming very thin on the ground and those who were left were 'slowing down', as happens to all of us as we age, so staging the show was becoming more and more difficult. At the same time the Society experienced difficulties recruiting people on to the commitee, and, sadly, it slowly started to die. Despite the efforts of Chairman Moyra Loads (wife of the late Fred Loads, one time committee member of the Society), for a short time, the Society was virtually dormant.

In 1998, Moyra's efforts to resurrect the Society finally bore fruit. The members of the old committee handed over to a new band of people who, while they were enthusiastic, lacked the skills of the old guard. Consequently, while the Society's official title is still The Caton and District Floral and Horticultural Society, it now operates in a much less formal way and, since 2004, under the less intimidating name of The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club. George Woodend became chairman and Moyra Loads was awarded life membership.

The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club has settled down and is thriving on a fairly fixed annual diary of events, most of which are held in the Victoria Institue in Caton. In addition to the annual diary, committee members maintain the planters in the village and assist the Parish Council in judging gardens for the Britain in Bloom event.

Annual membership costs the extortionate amount of £2.50!

Is held on the second Thursday in April in the Victoria Institue. This is not a black tie event and the Club supplies wine and nibbles to offset the boredom usually associated with the buisiness of AGMs.

On the second Thursday of the month in September, October, November, February and March we have speaker evenings. These evenings, costing 50p for members and £1.00 for non members, are extremely sociable where tea and biscuits are forced on the attendees. Often the speakers have plants or other 'garden related' items for sale. Oh, and we always have a raffle, as well.

As you can deduce, an annual membership of £2.50 does not cover the running costs of the Club so a plant sale is held once a year to boost funds and make its sheet balance. The Club buys plants from a local nursery and sets the selling price such that it makes a bit of a profit but customers pay less than they would in the shops. The Plant Sale is held, usually on the second Saturday in May, in the Victoria Institue. We charge 50p entrance which includes complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits. In true Club style, a raffle is also held.

The Club always has a tent at the Caton Gala to let people know that it is still alive and kicking. This could be regarded as the last remnants of the Show as there is always a Minature Garden competition for the local school children in the top two years of junior school. It is also a chance for us to sell off the plants left over from the plant sale. Surprisingly, there is no raffle!

Every year the Club organises an evening trip to a local garden travelling not in a bus, but in the cars of the various members who are prepared to drive. The secretary juggles cars and places in them, creates a map and directions and we all drive off to wander round one of the local Yellow Book gardens, usually finishing up by drinking tea and eating cake. The cost for this event depends upon the garden visited plus a small contribution, to the driver, towards petrol.

Most years the Parish Council enters the village in the Best Kept Village competition. It also, in conjunction with the Club, runs a competition for the Best Garden in the village. There are several categories in this competition and trophies are presented at the September Speaker Evening of the Club. This means that representatives of the Club, in association with representatives of the Parish Council, have to escort Britian in Bloom Officials round the village. Consequently, in July members of the committee prowl the highways and byways of the village, peering into any garden that can be seen from the road, in order to judge the best garden.

Every year the Club organises a Christmas meal. This usually takes place in one of the local Pubs, costs what ever the Pub charges in a particular year and is a very relaxed affair.

On the second Thursday in January, the Club does not hire a speaker but has a games night, again in the Victoria Institue. Entrance is 50p for members and £1.00 for non members. Nibbles and a glass of wine are provided with the entrance but, by crossing the appropriate committee member's palm with 50p, a further (or several further) glass/es of wine can be obtained.

Every few years the Club bullies people with nice gardens to open them for our 'Open Gardens' event to raise money. The profits are split between the Club and a selected charity. On the occasions we have staged this event, a good time has been had by all and we have given hundreds of pounds to charity.

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For the current year's diary, see the 'View ALL Events for this Group' option lower down this page.