Best of British Bonsai gets Gold at Gardeners World Live

‘Best of British Bonsai’

Gardeners’ World Live at The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

Click here to see the trees

With a change of venue, ‘Best of British Bonsai 2013’ found itself located at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham as part of this years ‘Gardeners World Live’, one of the stars of the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual calendar.

With a completely  different format, dictated by the nature of the venue, a 100 foot by 35 foot display area was built up to accommodate 54 superb bonsai, selected by Steve Tolley, ranging from shohin displays through to large trees. The exhibit, being displayed in an R.H.S. show, was judged by the RHS and awarded a Gold Medal. It is shortlisted as one of the Best Amateur Exhibits for judgement later in the year.

The standard of bonsai on display was extremely high, and my thanks go to all those who submitted trees for display. The judging for the best trees was done by Dan Barton who admitted having great difficulty in arriving at a decision. Fifteen trees and compositions received Awards of Merit and from those, the following received the top awards, sponsored by Steve Tolley.

                                    Best shohin:                   Ian Warhurst for his Chinese elm.
                                    Best Chuhin:                  Marcus Watts for his broom Zelkova.
                                    Best large tree:              Des Lloyd for his Juniper chinensis.

The Best of Show award went to Marcus Watts with his broom Zelkova.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Listing of all trees with Awards of Merit and Major Awards

A Gold Award at R.H.S. Chelsea

Once again, the Federation of British Bonsai Societies has been successful at the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show at Chelsea, gaining another Gold Medal Award. Credit goes to the team involved in setting up the display and all those who contributed some impressive trees.

As in previous years, the stand drew much public attention and, on this occasion, there was also TV coverage, with broadcasts going out at lunchtime on the Thursday and again that same evening.

Congratulations to all those who assisted, both in arranging the display as well as those who spent long days manning the stand and talking to the public in rather chilly conditions.

The Holford Medal of The Royal Horticultural Society

For the second time in 3 years (2010 & 2012) the Federation of British Bonsai Societies has been awarded The Holford Medal.  This medal was presented to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1928 by the executors of the late Sir George Holford.  Sir George was seen as the most successful amateur gardener of his time.  One of his most famous projects continues today.  The Westonbirt Arboretum, one of the most well known acer collections in the country, based in Gloucestershire and visited by thousands every year.  The Medal is awarded annually “for the best exhibit of plants and or flowers staged by an amateur group or group of amateurs” at an RHS Show in the UK

This is a tremendous achievement for FOBBS and most especially for those of us involved in staging the 2012 exhibit, and it does a lot for our avowed aim of promoting the Art and Craft of Bonsai in the UK.  The exhibit was staged and manned by a relatively small group of dedicated amateur enthusiasts giving freely of their time.

Malcolm Francis
New Dawn Bonsai Society

On February 22nd the bonsai fraternity lost a great ambassador and passionate enthusiast with the sudden death of Malcolm Francis of New Dawn Bonsai, South Wales.

Malcolm was a very active and committed secretary to New Dawn Bonsai (South Wales).

His lifelong passion had been to serve his community and only very recently he had been   re -elected to his local council.  A very close second came his enthusiasm for bonsai.  He was able to inspire people to achieve their potential and work together as a team, as shown by the growth and development of ‘New Dawn’.

Throughout all he did, he had one hundred per cent support from Val his wife.  The bonsai community send her our condolences.  We have lost a real gentleman.