On Saturday (May 30), over 150 gardening enthusiasts flocked to the fourth annual Garden and Plant Fete at Culrain Hall, where a large marquee had been erected to accommodate hundreds of different types and varieties of plants.
The winning bakers, from left, Graham Charge (chairman of the Culrain & District Hall committee), Sarah Vinnells, Trudy Williams (Judge), Anne Henderson (Winning Baker), Helen Newman.
Vegetables, fruit plants, flowers, potted plants, seeds, bulbs and bedding plants were all on sale, and visitors enjoyed choosing which plants to buy before heading home, eager to start their gardening projects.
Buyers swapped and shared gardening advice and tips as they pondered the considerable selection of bulbs, tubers, seeds and plants provided by the show sponsors: Farmer Gracy, Sutton Seeds and the Scotsburn Garden Centre (Tain).
Local growers: Sue and Tom Tomlinson, Jan Charge, Inger Smith and Ruby MacDonald also donated plants grown in their home gardens and poly tunnels.
A large marquee was erected erected in the grounds of Culrain Hall. to accommodate hundreds of different plants of all types and varieties.
While the marquee bustled with activity, the Culrain community provided refreshments, including a delightful selection of home-baked cakes and biscuits.
Many visitors browsed the stalls, which included work by local artists Inge Smith and Louise Worthy, as well as products by local perfumer Sandie Gordon, who was selling room diffusers, lotions and candles. The hall committee ran a stall selling all kinds of gardening equipment, which proved to be very successful.
Other activities included a tombola and competitions to win a garden planter, a hamper and a beautiful cake to mark National Bee Day.
The cake was baked to mark National Bee Day.There were hampers to be won, which added an extra element of excitement to the event.
Joss Elliott won the Welly Wanging competition and Sonny Newman won the children’s competition.
Sue Tomlinson won the ‘bee’-themed hat competition, and Suzi Foster, who attends Bonar Bridge Primary School, won the children’s competition.
The best ‘bee’-themed hat in the children’s category was made by Suzi Foster, who attends Bonar Bridge Primary School.
The final competition of the day was the baking competition, which this year involved baking three sausage rolls and was judged by last year’s winner, Trudy Williams.
After careful deliberation and enthusiastic tasting, the top three bakes were chosen: Anne Henderson won first place, and Sarah Vinnells and Helen Newman were the runners-up.
The judge announced that the standard had been incredibly high, and that all entrants should be proud of the quality and flavour of their sausage rolls.
Graham Charge, chairman of the Culrain Hall Committee, highlighted the very generous support of Highland Fine Cheeses from Tain. They had provided three generous prizes, including the famous ‘Minger’ cheese and ‘Ooh La La’, which was recently named Best Scottish Cheese, as well as other favourites.
He said, ‘The smell of the cheese coming from the fridge was wonderful, and we are very grateful for Highland Fine Cheeses’ generous support.’ To top off this highly successful event, over £1,400 was raised for the hall refurbishment project.
The cheese prizes were provided by Highland Fine Cheeses, based in Tain.
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