Like many organisations horticultural societies have come and gone over the years.  For a time in the past Nayland had a flower show combined with a sports day.  In an old Sports Committee minute book, now in the Suffolk Record Office, it was recorded that in 1898 a group of Nayland dignitaries met at the White Hart to discuss arrangements for the Annual Sports and Show which would include a Flower Show, Water Sports and Athletics.  It seems the committee was in existence before 1898 as accounts for the previous year were discussed.

In 1914 the minute book recorded that the Sports and Show were abandoned, no doubt because of the start of the war.  No further meetings were recorded until 1919 when it was decided to hold a local Village Show with Children's sports.  This was probably linked to the Peace Celebrations held in August that year.  During the 1920s the Village Show was a major event as seen from many old photographs but sadly the Sports Committee folded up in 1931.

Suffolk Free Press, 3 September 1981
Nayland & District Horticultural Society proudly display some of the brand new awards presented at their inagural show.
Essex County Standard 11 September 1981
The show attracted about 350 entries and was held on conjunction with the Nayland Community Council's annual summer fete.

In 2011, to mark the Society's 30th Anniversary a display of key activities and accomplishments was on show at our events.

An archive book showing our activities year by year was also compiled and can be veiwed here:

History Book 1981-1991 (pdf 5Mb)

History Book 1992-1999 (pdf 5.7Mb)

History Book 2000-2005 (pdf 7.8Mb)

History Book 2006-2010 (pdf 10.4Mb)

Trophy Winners 1981-2011 (pdf 16Kb)

Please note these are large files and may take a while to download.