1. All classes in the Show are open – except class 22

An open class is exactly that it is open to anyone to exhibit their plant in that class. Class 22 will most probably be a member’s class and only those persons who are members or meet certain criteria are eligible to enter this class.

2. Entries are free and there is no limit to the number of entries in each class

This is nice and simple as the rule states all entries are free, you may find at some shows that a small entry fee is levied.

There is also no limit to how many plants you can enter into any class (that is apart from the Members class, unless you qualify for this class).

3. All plants must have been grown by the exhibitor for a period of not less than 3 months.

This rule is to ensure that the unscrupulous exhibitor does not go to a local garden centre or florists etc and purchase a plant solely for the purpose of exhibiting it in this show. Unfortunately the only way of enforcing this rule is through the honesty and integrity of the exhibitor.

4. Any protest is to be made in writing to the Show Secretary before 1.30pm on the day of the show together with a deposit of £1.00 which is returnable only upon the protest being upheld.

Any exhibitor has the right to protest if they feel that they have been unjustly treated or something has happened that they are concerned about. This could be a breach of these rules or a plant entered into a wrong class and awarded a prize in that class, perhaps another grower is aware that the plant has been purchased within the 3 months period stated in rule 3. Many different situations may arise and this rule gives you the exhibitor the chance to put things right and have your say. The deposit will be forfeited to the society if the protest is not upheld.

5. A beginner is an exhibitor who has not yet won a 1st prize for fuchsias judged to BFS rules.

The British Fuchsia Society (BFS) has a set of rules for exhibitors and judges to abide by. The majority of shows run by specialist fuchsia societies or groups will conform to these rules and principles. Therefore unless you have won a 'First' prize in a show held under the auspices of the BFS rules you will qualify to enter plants in the beginner’s class (es).

6. A Novice is an exhibitor who has not yet won two 1st prizes for fuchsia’s judged to BFS rules.

This rule is the same in principle to the previous but you need to have won two first prizes before you are not eligible to compete in the novice class (es).

7. Judging will be to the rules and guidelines in this schedule and the current BFS Handbook and Judging Standards.

As stated previously the BFS have produced an Exhibitors and Judges Handbook the standards on which this show will be judged.

8. All classes other than for standards, hanging pots and baskets are to be bush or shrub plants. The stem lengths for standards in classes 13, 14 and 15 will measured from the compost level to the bottom of the lowest branch.

A bush plant has a stem not more than 11/2” and a shrub may have many stems from its base. The BFS in its wisdom has decided on certain stem lengths to certain types of standard, these are provided in the section within this booklet on growing standards. Note that the measurement is from soil level to the bottom of the lowest branch.

9. Plants must be free from pest and diseases. Any plant so affected will be removed from the show.

If you spend a lot of time and effort keeping your plants pest and disease free the last thing you need is to have them affected and infected with anything when you put them on the show bench. You must ensure that your plants are free from any disease (such as fuchsia rust) and pests (such as whitefly). The judge will ask for the plant to be removed from the show if any such affected plants are found.

10. Staging will be from 9.00am to 11.00pm on the morning of the show. All exhibitors must clear the hall at 11.00am. Judging will commence at11.00am prompt.

You can stage (put your plants on the show benches – so called because in the early days of horticulture the old growers used to exhibit their plants on what looked like a stage with mirrors and candles to show the plants off to the best effect) between the hours stated.