Club History

The club was founded in 1993. Originally there was a single monthly meeting (in Sutton-in-Ashfield), this was soon increased at the request of the members to two meetings a month.

Many more formal clubs depend on demonstrations, talks and slideshows with occasional workshops. At Ashfield the emphasis is very much towards the informal and "hands on". Members regularly bring their own own material to meetings. The club caters for a wide range of experience in bonsai and welcomes new members. Advice is available from the more seasoned and creative members and we try to foster a relaxed, "family feel" with everyone having a say in the clubs affairs. Each year we invite one or two speakers of international fame to present to us, and we occasionally organise weekend workshops with well known bonsai personalties. Presently our meetings are held in the comfortable and spacious church hall at South Normanton and new members are always welcome.

In 2019 the club members will continue to exhibit at major exhibitions both at home and abroad, with trees enterred for the Swindon Winter Image show in February (where the club has also been invited to present a display stand), and at the Bonsai Expo in April.

Members will also be attending the Trophy Exhibition in Belgium in February, the Doncaster show in March and other shows throughout the year

Monday 25 July 2011

Mr Kimura's nursery

After lunch at a fantastic restaurant we made our way to Mr Kimura's garden / nursery

 Fish & Chips Japanese style
 Beautiful Ikebana display (yes I do have a cultured side)
 Mr Kimura surrounded by the motley crew, if you look closely you can see John Pitt picking Mr Kimura's pocket...at least that's what I thought he was doing !
 White Pine planted on rock
 Juniper
 Juniper
 Juniper planted on rock
 Black Pine
 Juniper
 Quince
 Crytomeria group planting on rock
Juniper












If you want to see more pictures from our trip to Japan, follow the link from this site to John Pitts website. From there you can link to his album of photographs.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Pete Warren tree critique 21st July 2011

The great thing about these critique nights, (apart from getting the chance to take the pi**), is that Pete takes you through design elements, horticultural requirements, planning for the next 12 months etc etc for all the different species we take along.

Chris's maple
 Geoffs air layered chinese elm
 John's pine
 Johns hawthorne
 John yew
 Marks root on rock azalea
 Mikes field maple
 Pauls privet
 Petes azalea
 Philips white pine
Tonys pine












We find these nights invaluble for future development and styling of our bonsai.
A critique night for your club with Pete Warren is highly recommended.

Sunday 17 July 2011

TOJU-EN NURSERY, JAPAN 2010

Toju-en was the second nursery we visited during our trip. This is the nursery where Mr Kimura spent his apprenticeship with Mr Hamano.

 The entrance to the nursery
 Japanese Quince
 Prunus
 White Pine
 Maple ??
 White Pine
 White Pine
 Our tour guide Yoshi (centre), this guy is really helpful, and organised a fantastic day for us.
 The little shack (above Yoshi's head) was where Mr Kimura lived during his time on the nursery.
 Zelkova
 White Beech
Selection of Shohin & accent plantings

Sunday 10 July 2011

Club table display Thursday 7th July

 Here are a selection of members trees from our recent club night.



 John's European Larch in early stages of training (in an early Pitt pot ;-) )











Chris's Satsuki


 Mikes Mugo pine group planting
 John's Itoigawa juniper

 Julie's Chinese elm