Flower power is making a welcome return to Poole next month.

The long-standing Poole Flower Show is to relaunch following the pandemic.

It will run over two days on the Bank Holiday weekend – Saturday August 27 and Sunday August 28 – at The Hamworthy Club, Magna Rd, Canford Magna.

Sponsored by Compton Acres, the popular show will raise funds for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

It will help the community hospice to support patients with life limiting illnesses, and their loved ones, in Poole, East Dorset and Purbeck.

Organising the show – as they’ve done for more than 20 years – will be husband-and-wife team, David and Pam Bassil.

David said: “The show has been a part of the local show calendar for many years.

“Everyone is thrilled that the flower show is restarting as it’s been sorely missed.

“We were forced to abandon it during Covid times.

“Exhibitors are already growing flowers in advance of the show.

“There will be different classes for judging, including flowers, fruit and vegetables, floral arrangements and pot plants.

“There will be 139 different classes and lots of trophies to award!

“There will also be handicraft, cookery and children’s classes.

“Poole Flower Show is very fortunate to have some well-known local faces to assist with judging.

“Names include dahlias judge, Gwynne Davis, who’s a renowned horticulturist.

“John Lockwood will be judging the fruit and vegetables categories.

“He is a former horticultural officer at Poole Council with a breadth of knowledge and passion for his subject.

“Marion Martin will judge pot plants and cut flowers categories.

“She’s a longstanding judge who also runs the Busy Bees gardening club on Canford Heath.”

Bernard Merna, Owner of Compton Acres, said: “Compton Acres are honoured and excited to be sponsoring Poole Flower Show and supporting the great work of a fantastic local charity, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

“As well as bringing joy, growing plants, flowers and vegetables has many therapeutic benefits and this event celebrates local horticulturalists and their achievements.”

Vicki Gray, Lewis-Manning’s Fundraising Manager, said: “We are delighted that Poole Flower Show has chosen Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as their charity partner and we welcome our whole community to get involved and enjoy this longstanding, local event.“

David added, “The last date for entering the competition will be three days before the show and it is hoped that the level of interest that was achieved in 2019 will be matched.

“Poole Flower Show was a regular summer event from the 1890s to 1970s.

“The show had become very large and popular, mainly due to the enthusiasm of Ernest Gale, the Chief Officer of the Parks Department at that time and who was also known as Mr Poole Flower Show.

“A decade then passed and in 1985 a revived show was put in place.

“This show has been held regularly for charity ever since, at a number of different venues.

“Covid stopped shows for 2020 and 2021 and I am pleased to say that we are now holding the event this year for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.”

David is also a member and Show Manager of Bournemouth in Bloom the Bournemouth Horticultural Society, Parkstone Gardeners’ Society and involved in two other flowers shows for charity each year.

To find out more, and to enter, please contact David at [email protected]