Fears raised over future of annual Beauvale Horticultural Show unless new volunteers found

At the recent committee meeting for this year’s event – which is held at Greasley Sports & Community Centre – it was evident that despite the show’s ongoing popularity, it was becoming harder to ensure it can function each year.

Organisers say the main challenge is the limited number of volunteers available to help stage the show, with many of the longstanding volunteers now at a stage where the physical demands involved in the fetching and carrying required to achieve the show’s layout are becoming increasingly difficult.

As such, there is now a growing need for additional support.

Karen Sutton, show chair, said: “Although the competitors and public see a fantastic display on show day, behind the scenes volunteers are needed over the weekend to ensure everything is right on the day and then to de-stage after the event.

"A lot of hard effort is required to put on a great show.”

Rising from the embers of the once extremely popular Moorgreen Show, the Beauvale Horticultural Show has provided a much-loved community event on the August Bank Holiday weekend for several years.

During that time, the show has garnered a strong reputation and has attracted competitors, not just locally, but from the surrounding areas and counties.

However, since the Covid pandemic, many smaller, localised horticultural shows have disbanded and were not replaced.

Mrs Sutton continued: “Once a show closes, they are rarely replaced.

"We would love to keep this show going but without volunteers to help, or even eventually to take over the show, this year may be our swansong.”

The committee would appreciate any help either across the two days of the August Bank Holiday – August 29 and 20 – or for a couple of hours either on the Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon.

Any support would be greatly received and if you feel you would like to help maintain a local institution, please email Karen Sutton at [email protected]