Saturday 6th September 2025 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.
Show 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 2025
Arrangements - all homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
Arrangements - all homegrown
1. An arrangement of seasonal flowers. (David Mure Vase)
2. An autumn wreath.
3. An arrangement in a jam jar.
4. An arrangement interpreting a musical or opera.
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 salvias.
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
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
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
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
58. A carrot cake.
59. 3 florentines.
60. An apple turnover.
61. A blackberry and almond crumble cake - using recipe provided
62. A Kentish huffkin.
63. A jar of fruit curd - any fruit.
64. A homemade alcoholic drink.
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
Recipe for Blackberry and Almond Crumble Cake* (Class 61)
Ingredients
Crumble topping
100g self-raising flour
100g cold butter
100g demerara sugar
25g flaked almonds
½ tsp cinnamon
Cake
250g blackberries or other hybrid blackberries such as tayberries or loganberries
150g caster sugar
150g butter
3 eggs
125g self-raising flour
50g ground almonds
20cm cake tin
Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 180C/160Cfan/Gas4.
2. Line cake tin with lightly greased baking parchment.
3. Make crumble: Rub cold butter into flour using fingertips until resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in demerara sugar, cinnamon and flaked almonds. Set aside.
4. Make cake: Beat butter with caster sugar until smooth then gradually add beaten eggs. Stir in flour and ground almonds.
5. Spread cake batter into cake tin and arrange blackberries over.
6. Sprinkle crumble mixture over top.
7. Cook for 50mins to 1 hour or until golden brown and a knife comes out cleanly.
8. Leave to cool in tin a little, then turn out.
*From "The Garden to Kitchen Expert" Judith Wills and Dr D G Hessayon
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.