With a drop in membership and entries at the Wimborne Horticultural Society Spring Show held in the Allendale Centre on Saturday 9 April, there is a serious risk of the society having to close down.

If you Google the history of the society, it states that in one form or another there has been a horticultural society connected to the market town of Wimborne Minster since the mid-1800s. Indeed, it continues that the first mention of the Blandford & Wimborne Horticultural Society in several of the local newspapers refers to a show on Thursday 3 July 1856 held on the lawn of the Allendale House. If the autumn show under the present society is to go ahead on Saturday 10 September, it will be the 73rd show.

Former Mayor of Wimborne Anthony Oliver said: “My wife and I joined the society when we first moved to Dorset 46 years ago and over the intervening years we have participated in some very successful spring and summer and more recently autumn shows.

“So help and support is urgently needed to keep the society alive. There is to be an open meeting to decide the future on Monday 9 May at 7.30pm in the Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster and an appeal is being made to anyone interested in horticulture to attend.”

Further details can be obtained from Tony Beard, show manager on 01202 880116.