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

Saturday 28 January 2012

The seedier side of bonsai !

Whilst we all enjoyed our trip to the Noelanders Trophy, some members enjoyed themselves to excess..
I thought we ought to show the seedier side of bonsai trips

A couple of pictures...no names though

Ok, I'll name & shame

Mark, thoroughly enjoying the chocolate sauce off his Belgian Waffle

Corin and Lee are ashamed to watch.....















Mike contemplates the complexities of life and how to get his little finger out of his nose !


Tuesday 24 January 2012

More trees from Noelanders 13

Here are some more pictures from the Noelanders 13 Trophy


 Chinese Elm
 Chinese Juniper
 Japanese Quince
 Zelkova
 White Pine
 John Armitages awesome shohin display
 Pine
 Korean Hornbeam
 Red Pine & Oriental Bittersweet
Chinese Juniper, Noelanders 13 overall winner.
This tree was styled by Masahiko Kimura
 Spruce
 English Yew
 Beech
 Japanese Quince
 Itoigawa Juniper
 Itoigawa Juniper
 Hemlock
 Ezo Spruce
 Deshojo Maple
Scots Pine & Zelkova

Monday 23 January 2012

Ashfield Bonsai Club members trees at the 13th Noelanders Trophy

Here are the pictures we promised you of our members trees as displayed at Noelanders 13 this weekend.

Our tree were transported to the show, displays set up and returned to the UK by Peter Warren, Peter Snart & John Armitage.
As you can see the guys did a fantastic job of setting up our diplays and we extend our thanks to them for their hard work.

Mike Rose's Scots Pine

John Pitts Larch

John Pitts Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa)

John Pitts accent for his Larch
Mike Rose's Trident Maple
John Brocklehurst's Kishu Juniper
Ilex Serrata accent tree to Juniper Kishu

John Brocklehurst's Japanese Maple










We hope you enjoy our displays.

More pictures of the other trees displayed to follow in the next few days.

Friday 6 January 2012

Table show trees from Thursday 5th January meeting

Just a couple of quick snaps from our meeting last night.

 Potentilla, you've seen this one before, it's had it's winter haircut recently.
 Winter flowering Jasmine.....flowering in winter !
 Jasmine on root stand (ne taku)


Nice to see some colour during the otherwise dull winter months.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Happy New Year and some Bonsai porn !

Happy New Year to all our readers.

The Noelanders Trophy 2012 is nearly upon us, so we'll be adding plenty of pictures when we get home.

Just to whet your appetites for some awesome Bonsai porn, I thought I'd add some pictures from our trip to Japan in 2010....did I mention we'd been to Japan ?

Here we go, pictures from Shunka en, the nursery where Peter Warren served his apprenticeship.

 Mike Rose, Peter Warren & Mr Pitt at the entrance to Shunka en
 Juniper
 Mr Pitt getting exited over antique ceramics
 Pine
 Apricot
 Crab Apple
 Pine
 Satsuki Azalea
 Quince on rock
 Trident Maple on rock
 Apricot
 Garden picture
 Mr Koybayashi's award winning black pine called the Blue Dragon
 Camellia
Our happy band with Peter and Mr Koybayashi