LOCAL people are being invited to take part in the annual Sandford Flower Show later this month.

There will be classes for flowers, produce, floral displays, handicraft, cookery, vegetables, as well as children’s classes.

The show normally attracts between 450 and 500 entries in the 157 classes, with 23 cups and trophies to be won.

There are modest cash prizes to be won in each class.

The event is a real showcase of the gardens and allotments and nimble fingers of craftsmen or women.

Competition was fierce in some of the classes last year and early indications are that it will be no different this year.

Sandford Flower Show will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

Exhibits will be staged by competitors during the morning, after which the judges move in to study the exhibits.

After they have finished, at 2pm the show, which will be held in Sandford Parish Hall, will be open to the public.

Only then will the competitors find out if they have beaten their rivals.

A schedule, which includes details of all the classes, prizes, exhibiting advice, etc is available from Sandford Community Stores and Post Office, The Lamb Inn and The Rose and Crown and from committee members.

The schedule can also be downloaded from the Sandford Parish website at: www.sandford.org.uk .

Anyone who has problems getting a schedule should contact the show secretary, Steve Kirkham on 01363 773024 or chairman of the Flower Show Committee, Tony Wright on 01392 680323.

There are 36 fruit and vegetable classes, more than 30 floral and flower classes, as well as many for novelty vegetables, floral art classes and 25 cookery classes.

There are 10 photography classes and eight homecraft classes as well as many children’s classes in various age groups.

Most of the classes are open to everyone but there are some just for local exhibitors.

Competitors may enter up to two exhibits in a class. Exhibits must be the exhibitor’s property or work and have been grown in their garden or allotment or be home-made.

Each schedule has an entry form. These need to be returned to 21 Meadowside Road, Sandford or 36 Meadowside Road, Sandford by noon on Saturday, August 26.

The Flower Show will be open to the public, as previously mentioned, from 2pm and refreshments will be available.

The presentation of trophies will take place at 3.45pm, followed by an auction of donated produce at 4.15pm.