Milford & Makeney Flower and Produce Show

Following the last two years of success, Blooming Milford presents…

THE MILFORD AND MAKENEY FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW, SATURDAY 12^th SEPTEMBER 2026, AT MILFORD SOCIAL CLUB

Open for entries, registration and display: 9:30am – 11:00am

Entrants finish displaying their entries by 11.30am

Judging:  11:30am – 12:30pm

Open to the public: 1.00pm – 3:00pm (show ends 3pm.)

Entrants – please do not remove your entries until 3pm

Fee for each class entered = 50p, children’s categories are free.

New additional classes for handicrafts in 2026!

A printable version of the Entry Form, if you wish to fill it in beforehand, is here, but you are welcome to fill it in at registration on the day. Use the numbers in the Schedule of Classes below when filling in the form.

GET SOWING AND GROWING READY FOR SEPTEMBER 2026!

Any produce left by Exhibitors will be donated to the Hope for Belper food bank.

Schedule of classes for 2026

1. Onions, red or white – 2 matching, roots washed and neck of 7.5cm left on.
2. Shallots – 3 matching, roots washed and neck of 7.5cm left on.
3. Potatoes – 3 matching, any variety, washed.
4. Cherry tomatoes – 5 on a stalk
5. Large Tomatoes – 3 large matching, with calyx attached.
6. Carrots – 2 matching, washed, with tap root intact and leaves trimmed to 7.5cm.
7. Beetroot – 2 matching, washed, with tap root intact and leaves trimmed to 7.5cm.
8. Leeks – 1 with roots washed.
9. Courgettes – 2 matching
10. Squashes – Any single squash with 7.5cm of stalk attached.
11. Runner beans – 3 matching
12. French beans – 5 matching
13. Any Brassica – trimmed
14. Any other vegetable
15. Largest vegetable – by weight
16. Ugliest vegetable
17. Pears – 3 matching.
18. Apples, Dessert – 3 not polished.
19. Apples, Cooking – 3 not polished.
20. Raspberries – 7 with calyx attached.
21. Blackberries – 7 with calyx attached.
22. Any other fruit
23. A vase of flowers from the garden – in a suitable vase of your choice.
24. Dahlias /Chrysanthemums – 3 blooms of any variety or mix.
25. Roses – 3 blooms, any variety
26. Herbs – bunch in water
27. House plant – Flower or foliage must have belonged to the exhibitor for at least 12 months
28. Collage (Infants, 5-7) – Using any part of fruit/veg/flowers to create a collage of an insect, A4 size.
29. Collage (juniors, 8-11) – Using any part of fruit/veg/flowers to create a collage of an insect, A4 size.
30. A jar of jam – made with fresh fruit
31. A jar of chutney or piccalilli
32. A loaf of bread – made with 500g of flour (please, no bread-makers)
33. Victoria sponge – made with 3 eggs and with a filling of your choice
34. Scones – 3 scones of any flavour
35. Biscuits – 3 biscuits of any type.
36. Eggs – 3 eggs.
37. Knitting – A knitted hat
38. Crochet – A crocheted blanket
39. Sewing – A sewn bag
40. Woodwork – A bird box
41. Any other handmade item

A printable version of the Entry Form, if you wish to fill it in beforehand, is here, but you are welcome to fill it in at registration on the day. Use the numbers in the Schedule of Classes above when filling in the form.

Welcome to the Milford & Makeney Flower and Produce Show Website

History

The current Milford & Makeney Flower and Produce Shows follow in the footsteps of similar shows that have been held in the village over the years. Harvest Festivals were also held in the various places of worship in Milford & Makeney for many years. The most recent Flower & Produce Shows (in those days called Horticultural Shows) were held in the periods 1976 – 1986 and 1990 – 1994. In the first period they were held in what was then The Pavilion (now Nealies) and chimed with the self-sufficiency ethos of the times (reflected in the popular BBC sitcom “The Good Life” of that period). In consequence they were very popular events – for example, in 1981 takings from entry fees were £120 – and people were charged just 30p per entry. The only reason why the shows stopped was that after 10 years the organisers had had enough and were finding the organisation too much. The baton was then passed on to a second group of organisers, who ran the Horticultural Show in the period 1990 – 1994, this time in what was then The British Legion (now Milford Social Club (Sunshine Club)). In terms of size, the shows of these two periods had about 30 entry categories, but these also included baking, preserves and handicrafts.

The Milford & Makeney Flower and Produce Shows of 2024 and 2025

After a break of 30 years, the Milford & Makeney Flower & Produce Show was reinstated in 2024 and judged a success (see here for report) and so returned in 2025 bigger and better – with (following many requests) additional baking, preserves and egg classes. Overall the number of classes was increased from 30 to 41. For more detail of the 2025 show,  see here for report. For this year the number of classes remained the same, but craft ones were introduced also. A report of the day follows.

The event took place on Saturday 12th September 2026 and, as in the previous two years, was held in Milford Social (Sunshine) club, and many thanks for the use of their lovely space.

Backed by Blooming Milford, a committee was set up and over a year a great deal of background planning and organisation was undertaken to ensure the day went as smoothly as possible. Much effort went into publicity, with posters, flyers, this webpage, and the 10ft x 3ft banner created last year. Many thanks to Sue Wood for marshalling this effort and setting up a robust booking system which worked really well on the day.

On the Thursday before the event the committee cleaned and set up the upstairs meeting room (which would house the baked goods, preserves, flowers, handicrafts and children’s categories). On the day they arrived at 9.00am to set up the main downstairs bar for the fruit and vegetable categories, and the prize cups on the stage. Many thanks to all the committee and all the other volunteers, especially those who’ve not helped out before who all ensured it went smoothly on the day.

From 9.30 – 11.00am the entrants arrived and were registered and then went to display their wares.  Unfortunately, following the 3 months of drought and endless heatwaves of the summer, entries into the vegetable and fruit categories were well down on the last 2 years, although squashes and grapes did very well – an 15kg pumpkin from Paul Reed won the biggest vegetable prize!

The other categories held up well in terms of entries (flowers, baked goods, preserves, eggs) and there were some lovely crafts on display in this new to 2026 category.

One area which definitely bucked the trend was the children’s collage category. Following an after school workshop organised by Blooming Milford at Milford School a week before the show. The entries went up from 3 last year to 21 this.

Overall, in 2024 there were 27 entrants and 100 entries; in 2025 37 entrants and 165 entries and in 2026 45 entrants (including 21 children <12) and 114 entries.

The judges then arrived at 11.00am. We had 5 judges, two for the fruit, vegetables & flowers (Jeff Bates, former East Midlands in Bloom chair and Ian Sandars, holder of 3 immaculate allotments on Bridge View) 2 for the baked goods and preserves (Hazel Williamson and Wendy Jones of Duffield Evening WI) and 1 for the children’s classes and the handicrafts (Janie Marshall). They deliberated for 90 minutes and the committee wrote out all the certificates for each class (first, second, third and highly commended). Rosettes were also given for each winner of first. As ever, the committee would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the judges.

At 1pm the general public were let in to admire displays. look at their results, partake in beverages from the bar or have a selection of of the homemade cakes and pies made from fruits from peoples gardens and allotments at the refreshment table (proceeds to the Greenspace). In addition this year there was a raffle for Blooming Milford’s funds, with the top prize being this Blooming Milford hamper of bulbs, seeds and gardening equipment, worth £50. There was also a £35 voucher kindly donated by Megan from Polished Nails and Educate in the Pattern House in Milford and a £25 gardening voucher and wine kindly donated by the Potty Plotter ladies.

Meanwhile the volunteers were totting up the numbers to decide who was the winner of each category. At 1.30pm the winners were presented with the prizes below by David Moreton, Chair of Blooming Milford, and Elaine and Julia of the “Potty Plotters” programme on BBC Radio Derby.

Prizes

• The New Inn Cup for Overall Best in Show – Paul Whitaker
• The Richard Beardsley Rose Bowl for Best Floral Display in show – Suzie Hill
• The Glow Worm Cup for the Best Vegetable in show – Paul Reed
• The Norman Taylor Memorial Cup for the best Fruit in show – Kim McKay
• The Riverside Garden Centre Makeney Cup for best Junior 8-11 – Hafwen Murray-Roberts
• The TLC Repton Cup for best Infant 5-7 – Frances Midgeley
• The Velo Bavarian Support Local Cup – The Egg Cup – Kim McKay
• Crystal Bowl for best baked goods – Rosemary Timms
• Crystal Bowl for best preserves – Rosemary Timms
• The Milford & Makeney Residents Association Cup for Crafts – Jean Brickman
• The Nicky Squires Trophy for Diversity – Paul Whitaker

A little more information about one of the additional awards this year, the Nicky Squires Trophy for Diversity, for the person who has the highest number of points of those that have entered in the broadest number of categories.

The trophy is in honour of Nicky Squires, who tragically died suddenly last year. Nicky was a highly active member of Blooming Milford and local craft groups and could turn her hand to all the categories in the show today – she was an excellent gardener, cook and crafter. If the trophy had existed while she was still alive, she would have won it!

The trophy was made by Nicky’s husband Alan Squires, with the help of his son Oliver and Jane and Martin Harrison, and was presented this year by Alan.

Overall, despite the scorching summer suppressing the number of entries, the show was judged a success. There were many visitors to the show who were not entrants and everyone commented on the lovely community atmosphere. Watch this space for details about next years event.  Like last year, entry into the children’s categories is free, but the fee for each other class remains at 50p, in order to encourage as many entries as possible.

Schedule of classes for 2026

1. Onions, red or white – 2 matching, roots washed and neck of 7.5cm left on.
2. Shallots – 3 matching, roots washed and neck of 7.5cm left on.
3. Potatoes – 3 matching, any variety, washed.
4. Cherry tomatoes – 5 on a stalk
5. Large Tomatoes – 3 large matching, with calyx attached.
6. Carrots – 2 matching, washed, with tap root intact and leaves trimmed to 7.5cm.
7. Beetroot – 2 matching, washed, with tap root intact and leaves trimmed to 7.5cm.
8. Leeks – 1 with roots washed.
9. Courgettes – 2 matching
10. Squashes – Any single squash with 7.5cm of stalk attached.
11. Runner beans – 3 matching
12. French beans – 5 matching
13. Any Brassica – trimmed
14. Any other vegetable
15. Largest vegetable – by weight
16. Ugliest vegetable
17. Pears – 3 matching.
18. Apples, Dessert – 3 not polished.
19. Apples, Cooking – 3 not polished.
20. Raspberries – 7 with calyx attached.
21. Blackberries – 7 with calyx attached.
22. Any other fruit
23. A vase of flowers from the garden – in a suitable vase of your choice.
24. Dahlias /Chrysanthemums – 3 blooms of any variety or mix.
25. Roses – 3 blooms, any variety
26. Herbs – bunch in water
27. House plant – Flower or foliage must have belonged to the exhibitor for at least 12 months
28. Collage (Infants, 5-7) – Using any part of fruit/veg/flowers to create a collage of an insect, A4 size.
29. Collage (juniors, 8-11) – Using any part of fruit/veg/flowers to create a collage of an insect, A4 size.
30. A jar of jam – made with fresh fruit
31. A jar of chutney or piccalilli
32. A loaf of bread – made with 500g of flour (please, no bread-makers)
33. Victoria sponge – made with 3 eggs and with a filling of your choice
34. Scones – 3 scones of any flavour
35. Biscuits – 3 biscuits of any type.
36. Eggs – 3 eggs.
37. Knitting – A knitted hat
38. Crochet – A crocheted blanket
39. Sewing – A sewn bag
40. Woodwork – A bird box
41. Any other handmade item

A printable version of the Entry Form, if you wish to fill it in beforehand, will be available here soon, but you are welcome to fill it in at registration on the day. Use the numbers in the Schedule of Classes above when filling in the form.

Order of events 2026

Here is the order of events for the day (12th September 2026, at Milford Social Club at the junction of Sunny Hill and Chevin Road).

Open for entries, registration and display: 9:30am – 11:00am

Entrants finish displaying their entries by 11.30am

Judging:  11:30am – 12:30pm

Open to the public: 1.00pm – 3:00pm (show ends 3pm.)

Entrants are not allowed to remove their entries until 3pm.

Prizes

Entries are awarded a first, second and third in each class.

Points for places:  First place in class – 3 points Second place in class – 2 points Third place in class – 1. Best in Show will be awarded to the entrant with the most points overall.

As in 2024 & 2025, rosettes will be given to each first place winner and certificates to the second and third places.

In addition, these cups will be given out in the 2026 show as follows

• The New Inn Cup for Overall Best in Show
• The Richard Beardsley Rose Bowl for Best Floral Display in show
• The Glow Worm Cup for the Best Vegetable in show
• The Norman Taylor Memorial Cup for the best Fruit in show
• Cups for the best Infant 5-7 and best Junior 8-11
• A cup for the Best Handicraft

The crystal bowls below will be used for the Best Produce and Best Flowers prizes.

There will also be a new prize, donated by friends and relatives of Nicky Squires, of an engraved and mounted bronze trowel, for the person who has entered the broadest number of categories.

ENTRY RULES IN 2026

• You must only enter home grown produce. Vegetables must be washed.  Children can enter adult classes
• Entries must be staged between 9.30-11am on the morning of the show
• Entries will be recorded by number only to ensure anonymity until after judging
• If exhibits are not up to the standard specified by the show schedule prizes may not be awarded, and if there are less than 6 entries in a class the number of awards will be at the judge’s discretion
• Nothing can be removed or altered between judging and the end of the show. Everything must be collected at the end of the show or it will be donated to the Hope for Belper food bank at the Baptist Church in Belper
• Cups and trophies cannot be won outright and must be returned to the committee by 31^st July 2027