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

Sunday 30 September 2012

Ashfield Bonsai Club competition 2012

Thursday 20th September was our yearly competition.
There was a tense atmosphere in the church hall as the competitors eyed up each others trees...

Anyhoo here are some pictures of the trees entered and the winning trees and custodians.

Mike's Azalea
Philip's Ficus
Pete Tomb's Itoigawa Juniper
Chris's Mugo pine
Mike's Olive
Ted's Trident Maple on rock
Pete Tombs Juniper
Pete Goodhead's Maple
Mike's Itoigawa Juniper
 Ted's Maple
 The winning trees from each size category
Derek gazes longingly at the winning trees....is it just me or is Derek developing a lovely set of boobs ?
Pete Tombs is overcome at winning the best shohin tree award
Ted Goodhead receives the award for best chuhin tree
Pete Goodhead receives the awards for best large tree and Best in Competition
Pete & Derek do a quick Charleston to celebrate Pete's award for Best in Competition.

Monday 10 September 2012

Ashfield display at Greenwood Bonsai Studio

We were lucky to be invited to put on a small display of trees last weekend at the Bonsai Bash 2012.
Corin Tomlinson at Greenwood Bonsai Studio kindly offered us some space to display so we jumped at the chance.
Here are a few pictures of our trees on display.

Peter Tomb's Juniper itoigawa
Lovely little ceramic kingfisher on reed
John Brocklehurst's shohin composition of white pine & Chinese elm
Semi cascade white pine
Cork bark Chinese elm
Moss ball with fern
John Brocklehurst's zelkova
Chris Dodds cedar
Collaborative shohin display
Peter Tomb's beautiful itoigawa juniper
John Brocklehurst's potentilla
Mike Rose's zelkova
Corin thinning out  recently imported juniper, there is some great material for sale at the nursery, well worth a visit.
Accent
Accent
Accent
John Pitt's hawthorn raft
Mike Rose's trident maple

We had an enjoyable weekend, and made some new friends and hopefully may gain a new member or two.
Many thanks to Corin & Paul at the Greenwood Bonsai Studio for inviting us to display.
If you're ever in Nottinghamshire make sure you take the time to visit the nursery




Sunday 9 September 2012

Simon Temblett pays a visit.

Simon Temblett was in the area to work on a few members trees in 1 to 1 workshops at their homes.
So we took the opportunity to book Simon to undertake a critique of members trees at our club meeting on Thursday 6th September.
I've attached a few pictures below.
I'm not sure wether or not Simon is a trained gurner or if he's just starting off on the path to international gurning stardom but I seem to have captured some wonderful stills !
Anyhoo enjoy the pic's

Chris's Cedar
Tony's Hemlock....never mind Tony bonfire night is just around the corner.
Mike's Rigida juniper
Mark's Procumbens juniper
Ted's pine, grown from seed
Geoff's Thuja
Paul's Maple
Ted's Juniper
Philips white pine...a tricky one this
Mike's hemlock in an early John Pitt pot...(sorry John the opportunity arose...so I took it)
Paul's Escallonia
Peter's Juniper

Paul's Pine....possible loo brush ?
John's Pine









Our apologies to Simon for bringing along some tricky trees but he made the most of the evening and everyone that had bought trees along went home with a firm idea of how to develop their trees further.
Many thanks to Simon for an enjoyable and informative evening.