Please find attached and below our June 2025 Newsletter.
REDDITCH BONSAI
www.midlandbonsai.org www.redditchbonsai.co.uk
Edition of July 2025.
EDITOR’S REMARKS.
Well, another Show has come and gone! We feel that this year’s was one of the best and hope that
you agree. Your committees feel that the Gardens’ decision not to allow the use of the plinth by the
main windows was regrettable. We can see that a part of the area should probably be kept clear for
use as a fire exit but it was hardly necessary to block the whole. We shall discuss this with the
gardens in due course as we understand that, despite the prospect of redevelopment work
commencing at some point, this will not affect the Terrace Suite. We hope that we can reserve the
7th June 2026 for the next show, so you can now have no excuse for not supporting us next year!
We have sent your thanks to David Cheshire and Gavin Holden, traders, for supporting us and
again we shall discuss their placement for 2026. Gavin Holden has already said that he is interested
in returning next year. Indeed, it was good to have a “new kid on the block” We hope that you all
supported our traders. We managed to leave our purchases by the Tombola but fortunately Teanah
was not tempted to put them in as late prizes!
The number of trees on display this year was over 130 – probably 132 in total. The Mame section
grew exponentially and took up an enormous space on the tables. Well done to everyone involved.
We are including in this letter the report that was sent to the UKBA and the Gardens after the event
and at their request. The header has been missed off here. Photos for inclusion in the UKBA
bulletin and for the benefit of the Gardens were supplied by Alex Watt and Tony Bennett (Judith’s
friend). We believe that Alex will post a selection of the photos that he took on the website so we
will not include them here. The Gardens have been so impressed by Alex’s photos that they have
asked for his permission to include them/some of them in their promotional material. He is
presently considering this request. We wonder if he wants an Agent?
Our thanks also go to Jon Moult for giving up his Sunday to judge the show. He was impressed by
the quality of the trees on display and has now offered to come along to the society and give a talk
and/or support a workshop evening in the future.
We should also not fail to mention the effort made by Julio Barros and his wife to dress for the
occasion – well done to them, their outfits were so striking and something not seen there before.
SHOW REPORT.
This year the Midland Bonsai Society (MBS) celebrates its 50th anniversary although Redditch
Bonsai Society (RBS) has not been in existence for quite so long.
Both societies were delighted once again to have the opportunity to present their annual show(s) at
the Botanical Gardens where the event has taken place for many a long year now.
The Show comprises
- Competition between members in various classes from mame to chuhin and other special
categories, - Display of trees not entered into competition by their owners,
- Presentations on bonsai related subjects by invited guests. This year we welcomed Jon
Moult the event judge/bonsai expert and Malcolm Hughes, former FOBBS Chairman and
bonsai aficionado, - Practical demonstrations of bonsai tree care
- Sales tables by invited traders. This year David Cheshire Bonsai and Holden Ceramics
were on parade offering their wares to all visitors. - The People’s Tree of the Show vote which allows the visiting public to vote for their
favourite tree which, over the years, has always been different to the choice made by the
event judge for the Supreme Tree.
The People’s Tree also enables us to calculate, in a rough and ready way, the number of people
passing through the display. This year, taking into consideration the actual voting slips returned,
the fact that some visitors voted as a family or a couple thus casting only one vote, and that some
didn’t participate at all, suggests that there were between 350 and 400 people visiting during the
day.
Our display of trees this year was one of the biggest and in our judgment best ever with over 130
trees of all shapes and classifications on show.
We were also pleased to welcome the contestants in the New Talent competition organised by
FOBBS which took place in an adjoining hall of the Gardens.
The Gardens themselves are about to undergo major redevelopment and it will be interesting to see
what changes and improvements are made. One thing that is certain is that the National Bonsai
Collection, currently housed in a corner of the site is due for a substantial makeover with a
completely different way of exhibiting the trees in the collection.
So, our grateful thanks to the Management of the Gardens for allowing us to stage the show and to
the staff who proved to be more than helpful in every respect throughout the time that we were
there.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.
As you know this event will feature in the October meeting. Teanah and Brian are in charge of the
arrangements which are, we believe, well in hand. We have asked than to supply an update on the
preparations made thus far.
SHOW RESULTS.
Here are the results of this year’s competitions:-
Bromage and Young MAME Trophy. - Tarun Raipure
- David Attwood
- Tarun Raipure
The Graham Gavin STARTER TREE Trophy. - Anne Rowland
- Steve Stokes
- Brian Cooke
The Little Timber SHOHIN Trophy. - Junior Parris
- David Attwood
- Junior Parris
The Ray Bailey Trophy for GROUP PLANTINGS. - Richard Gilkes
- David James (RBS)
- Brian Cooke
The Roy Taylor Memorial Trophy for LANDSCAPES AND ROCK PLANTINGS. - Robert Walton
- Robert Walton
- David Collins (RBS)
The Price and Adams Trophy for CHUHIN. - Junior Parris
- Wes Pinfield
- David Attwood
The Hal Thompson Trophy for OPEN CLASS. - Robert Walton
- Richard Gilkes
- Robert Walton
The MASTER CLASS. - Robert Walton.
The Dennis Lloyd Trophy for the SUPREME TREE of the Show. - Robert Walton
The Matt Weir Salver for the MOST AWARDS OF MERIT. - Robert Walton.
The Keith Kirtland “PEOPLE’S TREE OF THE SHOW” Trophy. - Richard Gilkes
The Trophy for the BEST TREE AND POT COMBINATION. - Tarun Raipur
EDITOR’S NOTE:- Position 3 above is of course “Highly Commended” !!
BONSAI TIP OF THE MONTH.
Do bring Show winners, 2nds and H.C.s to the next meetings of your society.
SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE SHOW
Judith Davison
I am sure that Richard will put some comments regarding the show into this newsletter, but I would
just like to add a few words.
Firstly to say how much I enjoyed the day, as I hope everyone else who came did. Those who didn’t
manage to get there missed a treat as it was possibly the best one yet.
Both of the speakers had decent audiences, I’m glad to say.
It is a long, tiring day for those of us who came to set up, and stayed to break down, but all thanks
go to everyone concerned and I have to admit that getting some of the preliminary work done on
the Saturday afternoon helps enormously.
Well done everyone!
Judith.
David How (Redditch)
As far as the show goes, it was great to see so many quality trees this year, the standard seems to be
getting better every year. Thanks to Dave Attwood and everybody else involved in making the
show a success.
Thanks also to Steve and Gavin for their attendance, it was great to walk to both of them and to see
such enthusiasm.
Thanks also to Malcolm and Jonathan for their contributions, and all the staff at the gardens who
were friendly and accommodating.
I look forward to next year’s show!
Julian Listwon
Just to let you know that Scot Winard has put our bonsai show on his YouTube channel “Lets Do
Bonsai” called Birmingham Bonsai show and FoBBs New talent Final.
Kind regards
Julian
Robert Walton.
Best show to date
Tree quality up
Better placement of stalls
Better flow and placing of tree categories worked well R.
GARDENING TIP OF THE MONTH.
Dig up and enjoy the last of the early potatoes, and keep earthing up maincrops.
Harden off & plant tender vegetables such as pumpkins, squashes and outdoor tomatoes.
Hoe beds on dry days to keep the weeds under control, taking care not to damage the roots of
your plants.
Ensure to deadhead roses & pick sweet peas to encourage flowering.
In June grass is growing fast, so mow the lawn regularly & dig out dandelions & thistles.
WHAT’S COMING UP AT MBS.
Your July meeting features ACCENT PLANTS Would anyone like to say a thing or two about
them at the start of the meeting please?
WHAT’S COMING UP AT REDDITCH.
As you already know this month (June) is all about PRUNING AND DEFOLIATION.
Next month we shall be focusing on Watering and irrigation but will also have a
“Bring/Buy/Swap” session as well.
A NEW FEATURE – “NATURE NOTE”.
Alex is obviously a chap who likes to keep fit and cycling to work one day he found that the local
Blue Tits had taken up residence in the Cigarette Bin attached to the bike shed. ((We didn’t think
smoking and cycling sat very well together but we don’t know what the Blue Tits think of it
either!)
STOP PRESS.
The Gardens have confirmed that they have pencilled us in for the 2026 Show on SUNDAY 7th
JUNE, so put that down in your diaries if you would.
Richard and Angela Gilkes
16th June 2025.