Saturday 5th September 2026 Autumn Show
We hold our Spring and Autumn Shows annually in Pluckley Village Hall. They are an opportunity for a bit of friendly rivalry among members and friends and we always love to see new faces at the events. See your Annual Schedule or the downloads below on how to enter; the rules, logistics and some tips on selecting exhibits etc. Of course, if you’d rather talk to someone then Committee members will be around to help you on the morning of the show but please give yourself plenty of time as it is quite busy. If you want some advice before the day, please contact Rebecca Southall, our Show Coordinator. Contact details in your Annual Schedule.
Don’t be put off, its great fun and the more times you enter the better you get at it!
The hall opens for exhibits from 10.15am. Committee members will be available to help on the morning of the show if you want assistance. The hall closes for judging at 11.30am. (Only officials of the society may be in the hall during judging.) The hall reopens at 2.45pm for exhibitors, members, friends and local villagers to view the exhibits and for the presentations. Exhibits must be collected before the doors close at approx. 4pm.
Downloads
How to Enter (pdf)
DownloadAutumn Classes 2026 (pdf)
DownloadClass 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (pdf)
DownloadOptional Recipe for Pistachio and Thyme Biscuits (pdf)
DownloadOptional Recipe for Courgette and Feta Muffins (pdf)
DownloadOptional Recipe for Seedy Soda Bread (pdf)
DownloadOptional Recipe for Homemade Fruit Pastilles (pdf)
DownloadShow Rules
ENTRY
Anyone can enter and there is no charge for entry.
Exhibitors may enter as many different classes as they wish but a household may only stage one entry per class (although there are one or two exceptions which are noted in the relevant class descriptions).
Where a class asks for a number of a particular item they should be as similar as possible in size and shape.
Exhibitors provide their own vases, plates etc.
An entry slip for each class should be completed showing class and exhibitor and placed upside down by the exhibit. (These will be available on the day.)
The judge is independent, and their decision is final. They will award first, second and third awards in each class (subject to the number of entries in each class and quality of exhibits) and identify cup winners.
Schedule of Classes 2026
Arrangements - all homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
1. An arrangement of seasonal flowers. (David Mure Vase)
2. "Harvest".
3. An arrangement in a jam jar.
4. An arrangement interpreting a book title
Classes 1-4 may incorporate accessories.
Flowers - homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
5. One specimen rose bloom.
6. A bowl of roses - any variety or varieties.
7. Vase of 3 stems of roses - any variety or varieties.
8. Vase of 3 stems of roses, one variety - bud, bloom and blown - one flower head on each stem.
9. Vase of 3 stems of cosmos.
10. One specimen dahlia bloom - any variety.
11. Vase of 3 heads dahlias - any one ball variety.
12. Vase of 3 heads dahlias - any one cactus variety.
13. Vase of 3 heads dahlias - any other single variety not mentioned.
14. Vase of not more than 10 stems of dahlias - any variety or varieties
15. Vase of 6 stems of hardy perennials, 2 stems each of 3 varieties.
16. Vase of up to 10 annuals
17. Vase of 3 stems of japanese anemones- any variety or varieties.
18. Vase of 3 stems of fuschias - any variety or varieties.
19. Vase of 3 stems Michaelmas daisies - any variety or varieties.
20. Vase of 3 stems flowering shrubs (not roses) - any variety or varieties.
21. Vase of 3 stems hips, haws or berries - any variety or varieties.
22. Vase of 3 stems of flowers - from corms, bulbs or rhizomes.
23. Largest sunflower head - more than one entry per household allowed. (Sheila Terry Cup)
24. Vase of grasses - any variety or varieties, bamboos included.
25. Vase of 3 hydrangea flowers - any variety or varieties.
Fruit - homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
Vegetables - homegrown
26. 5 culinary apples - one variety.
27. 5 dessert apples - one variety.
28. A plate of not more than 20 edible berries including hulls - one or more varieties.
29. 5 pears - one variety.
30. 5 stoned fruit - one variety.
31. One fruit - variety not already mentioned.
Vegetables - homegrown
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
Vegetables - homegrown
32. Collection of 5 salad vegetables displayed as grown - shown on a plate.
33. 2 sweetcorn cobs.
34. 3 onions.
35. 7 shallots.
36. 3 beetroot.
37. 2 cucumbers.
38. 5 ripe tomatoes (not small).
39. 7 small, ripe tomatoes.
40. Tomatoes on a vine - at any stage of ripening.
41. 3 potatoes - any colour or variety.
42. 3 carrots.
43. 5 runner beans.
44. 3 garlic bulbs - any variety or varieties.
45. 2 courgettes 4”-6”, or 10-15cms in length, ideally with flowers.
46. 5 beans, not runner.
47. 3 sweet peppers.
48. 3 chilli peppers.
49. 2 squash ideally of equal size/length.
50. Collection of named herbs - displayed in a vase.
51. 2 vegetables of any variety - not already mentioned.
52. Longest runner bean.
53. Strangest shaped vegetable or fruit - more than one entry per household allowed.
54. Heaviest pumpkin. (Pumpkin Cup)
55. Master Gardener - 6 items all different, comprising 3 vegetables, 2 flowers in a vase and l fruit, assembled on a plate.
56. Largest tomato.
57. Special Autumn Competition - Plant grown from plug obtained at Spring Show. (Charles Gunther Tankard)
Home Produce
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
58. A bakewell tart
59. 3 pistachio and thyme biscuits.*
60. 3 courgette and feta muffins.*
61. A lemon and lavender cake - using recipe provided
62. A soda bread loaf.*
63. Homemade fruit pastilles - any fruit.*
64. A homemade alcoholic drink.
*Optional recipes can be downloaded above.
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
Class 61 Recipe for Lemon and Lavender Cake (Diana Henry)
Ingredients
300g granulated sugar
¾ tbsp dried lavender
175g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
250g Greek yogurt
125ml mild-flavoured olive oil
finely grated zest of an unwaxed lemon, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice
icing sugar, to dust & sprigs of fresh lavender, to serve
20cm cake tin
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.
2. Butter a 20cm diameter, 6cm deep cake tin and line the base with baking parchment.
3. Put the granulated sugar and lavender into a food processor and whizz until the lavender has broken down.
4. Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together into a bowl. Stir in the lavender sugar.
5. In a jug, mix the eggs with the yogurt and oil.
6. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and gradually stir in the wet ingredients.
7. Add the lemon zest and juice, but don't over-mix.
8. Scrape into the prepared tin.
9. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the cake is coming away from the sides of the tin and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
10. Turn it out, peel off the paper and set on a wire rack until cold.
11. Dust with icing sugar just before serving and decorate with sprigs of fresh lavender.
Autumn Show Cups
David Mure Vase
Pluckley Roses Cup
David Mure Vase
Awarded to the best arrangement of home grown flowers. Class 1.
Rose Bowl
Pluckley Roses Cup
David Mure Vase
Awarded to the person with the most points in the Rose Classes. Classes 5-8.
Pluckley Roses Cup
Pluckley Roses Cup
Dawes Challenge Cup
Awarded for the best rose exhibit in show.
Dawes Challenge Cup
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Dawes Challenge Cup
Awarded to the person with the most points in the Dahlia Classes. Classes 11-14.
Pluckley Sweetpeas Bowl
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Awarded to the winner of the best vase of up to 10 annuals. Class 16.
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Norah Evans Floral Arrangements Cup
Awarded for the best floral exhibit in show.
Sheila Terry Cup
Charles Gunther Tankard
Sheila Terry Cup
Awarded for the largest sunflower head. Class 23.
The Pumpkin Cup
Charles Gunther Tankard
Sheila Terry Cup
Awarded for the heaviest pumpkin. Class 54.
Charles Gunther Tankard
Charles Gunther Tankard
Charles Gunther Tankard
Awarded to the winner of the Special Autumn Show. Class 57.
Vegetable Cup
F J Masters Cup
Charles Gunther Tankard
Awarded for the best vegetable or fruit exhibit in show.
F J Masters Cup
F J Masters Cup
F J Masters Cup
Awarded for the most points in the fruit and vegetable classes. (Classes 26-54 &56.)
Coronation Cup
F J Masters Cup
F J Masters Cup
Awarded to the winner of the Master Gardener class. Class 55.
Boucher Cup
Boucher Cup
Boucher Cup
Awarded to the person with the most points the home produce classes. (Classes 58-64)
Boucher Cup
Boucher Cup
All cups remain the property of the society and must be returned in time for the next relevant show. The cups are covered by the society’s insurance but must be signed for, to acknowledge receipt. Non-members may be awarded cups, but only members may take them home from the show. Non-members should return the cup to the care of the committee at the end of the show.
Many of the cups have historical significance to the society and cannot be replaced and should be cared for accordingly. Please notify the committee asap if you damage or lose a cup. Please polish cups before their return. If you plan to move away, please contact us to arrange their safe return before you leave.