NAFAS NEWS
AUTUMN 2 026
NAFAS NEWS
Speakers’ Rendezvous
Ten NAFAS Speakers gathered at the Studio Theatre in S alisbury for an engaging and informative Speakers’ Rendezvous, organised by the National Speakers Committee. The event welcomed National, Area and trainee Speakers.
Following an icebreaker session, theatre director Christian Emmerson led an inspiring workshop on stagecraf t, covering warm-up techniques and the impor tance of connecting with an audience. In the af ternoon, Peter Mathers (Nor th East) delivered a practical session on marketing, resources and finance, encouraging discussion and the sharing of experiences
CEO’s Area tour complete
The day concluded on a lighter note with a session by Bronda Dossett (Wessex & Jersey) on incorporating humour into presentations, resulting in plenty of laughter and memorable moments. Attendees also enjoyed delicious homemade cakes kindly provided by Irene Manson (Berks, Bucks & Oxon).
Elimination competition for WAFA
The elimination competition for the 14th World Flower Show organised by the World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA) takes place on 16 July 2026 in Shrewley, Warwickshire. NAFAS Areas may nominate one member to compete in the competition, titled ‘Land of My Fathers’. The winner will be invited to stage an Honorary Exhibit on behalf of the Association at WAFA in Sydney, Australia in March 2027 and will receive sponsorship from NAFAS of up to £5,000 towards the project. Check the NAFAS website for updates.
NAFAS Head Office contact details Phone 020 7247 5567 Email info@nafas.org.uk Web www.nafas.org.uk
On 1 June, NAFAS CEO Richard Abraham visited the Flower Clubs of Mercia & Nor th Wales Area Council meeting, bringing his tour of the Association’s 20 Area Councils to a close
Richard said the visits had been both useful and informative and that he had enjoyed meeting club and Area executive members throughout the tour While the primary purpose was to discuss the Association’s Renewal Programme and answer questions, he said he was grateful for the thoughtful feedback, concerns and suppor t shared by members. The visits also provided valuable insight into the challenges facing clubs.
Richard will continue to attend one Area Council meeting each quar ter beginning in the autumn and, where possible, will seek fur ther oppor tunities to meet members
Fuel updates
NAFAS members may now claim 55 pence per mile for fuel when travelling on Association business, an increase of 10 pence The change reflects HMRC guidance on the mileage rate that may be charged by self-employed individuals
ABOVE Christian Emmerson (wearing a striped T-shirt) with NAFAS National, Area and trainee Speakers
NAFAS NEWS
NAFAS B oard updates
In June, the Association announced changes to its Board of Directors, welcoming two new Trustees, Jan Armitage and Julie Carse, while longstanding member, Julie Pearson, stepped down
Jan is a Char tered Accountant with extensive experience of leading change and renewal across the corporate, governmental and charitable sectors Recently retired af ter six years as COO/CFO at Peterborough Cathedral, she also serves as volunteer administrator of the Calligraphy & Lettering Ar ts S ociety. Jan has been involved in church flower arranging teams and is a keen gardener and sailor.
Course success across the Areas
S everal NAFAS Cer tificated Flower Arranging Courses have recently been completed with successful students receiving their cer tificates. Encouragingly, many par ticipants have enjoyed the experience so much that they are keen to progress to Par t 2 and potentially Par t 3.
Courses have been delivered in Surrey, Dorset & Guernsey and the Nor th East Areas. Congratulations to all those involved in establishing and running the programmes. It is hoped that more Areas will consider offering courses in the future.
Julie is the Corporate Governance Manager with Queen’s University, Belfast and previously worked with PwC management consultancy services, Belfast She brings more than 25 years’ experience in governance and project management in both operational and consulting roles. From 2010 to 2021, she served as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Craf t NI, the sector-lead body for the promotion and development of the design-led contemporary craf t industry in Nor thern Ireland. A passionate flower arranger and gardener, Julie is a Committee Member and Past S ecretary of Comber Flower Club, Assistant S ecretary of JDS&E NI and the returning S ecretary of Ballynahinch Gardening Club
Stepping down from the Board for personal and professional reasons, Julie Pearson leaves a significant legacy from her time on the Board. A multi-award winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show she was instrumental in organising and directing the video shoot for National Flower Arranging Day amongst other activities.
NAFAS National Chair, Nicky Wylie said: “Julie Pearson is a NAFAS star whose commitment to the Association is much appreciated. A big thank you to her for her service and dedication - I look forward to working with her on NAFAS activities in the years ahead. I now warmly welcome Jan Armitage and Julie Carse They will strengthen the Board through their exper tise in financial management, change management and governance as we begin the ambitious three-year Renewal Programme.”
ABOVE Students on the new NAFAS course learning to create their own floral designs
The courses were developed in response to feedback from National Teachers, Education Representatives and students. Assessment is based on a record of practical work, supported by photographs, while all course documentation is available online for teachers to review when planning a programme
The Course Consultant can answer enquiries and anyone considering teaching a NAFAS course is encouraged to make contact with them before beginning the planning process: courseconsultant@nafas.org.uk
NAFAS NEWS
RHS show successes
Congratulations to Nor th Midlands Area member Jade Lof tus (pictured right) on winning RHS Florist of the Year and a Gold medal for her exhibit, ‘Nature Magnified’, at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Readers can discover more about Jade’s inspiration and view original photography of her design in the Autumn issue of The Flower Arranger.
Meanwhile, NAFAS Board member Elizabeth Gordon (above right) and her daughter Emily Broomhead (above lef t) both of Three Counties & S outh Wales Area were awarded a Gold Award and the People’s Choice Award at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026.
Sa ve e date NAFAS AGM 2026
The 67th Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 14 October 2026
Details will be published on the NAFAS website nearer the time. www nafas org uk
NAFAS online shop
Don’t forget to visit the NAFAS shop. You can order from our wide selection of items with a floral theme, books, show materials, cards and gif ts to send to family and friends with a floral flourish Subscriptions to The Flower Arranger magazine and back issues are also available to purchase.
The NAFAS shop stocks the following:
l Christmas cards
l Competition award cards
l Diaries and calendars
l Digital handbooks
l The Flower Arranger magazine
l Gif ts and notecards
l NAFAS handbooks and NAFAS Competitions Manual
l Fur ther flower arranging books
Don’t miss out! Order today.
GOOD CAUSE S
NAFAS-affiliated flower clubs raise money for a wide range of charities and wor thy causes. Here are the latest fundraising successes
Deal & District Flower Club (Kent Floral Ar t) was proud to host a fundraising sale on 4 April in support of the Landmark Centre rejuvenation project As the club has called this much-loved venue its home for many years, members felt it was especially meaningful to contribute in this way.
Drawing on their creativity and floral design skills, members produced a beautiful selection of spring and Easter-themed arrangements and gif ts for sale. The event was well suppor ted and raised more than £550 for the project.
Every contribution, large or small, will help bring new life to this historic building at the hear t of the local community, of which the flower club is proud to be a par t.
Dunelm Flower Club (Nor thumberland & Durham) presented a cheque for £1,000 to local St Cuthber t’s Hospice, which needs several million pounds each year to operate. The money was raised throughout the year from coffee mornings, sales tables, selling cards, and flower demonstrations. The club will continue to fundraise throughout the year
If your flower club or Area has raised money for charity, we would love to hear about it at news@nafas.org.uk
Adver tise your event in The Flower Arranger
Is your NAFAS Area or club planning a flower show, festival or event?
If so, contact Jayne Perry to discuss our exclusive discounted rates for Nafas areas and clubs, 01778 391189/ 07876 658498, jayne perry@warnersgroup co uk
The Flower Arranger is the UK’s favourite floral art magazine with the widest circulation of flower lovers including NAFAS members and the general public By advertising in it, you will achieve the best possible targeted publicity for your event
Whether a festival, show or social event, we are happy to discuss the best way of publicising it
ABOVE Noreen Wright, (club Chair), presenting the large cheque to a representative of St Cuthbert’s Hospice
WORLD NEWS
India
Pushpa Bitan Friendship S ociety
The society held a wonderful ‘mango-licious’ meeting for members. The theme was ‘Still Life Designs with Mangoes’ with many members displaying designs featuring the delectable fruit in their Still Life designs with a difference.
arranger: Usha modi
S eparately, talented society member Renu Poddar created a hear tfelt Easter design comprising a floral egg with bunny ears!
Arranger: Gaurangi Agarwal
Arranger: Preeti Sarda
Arranger: Kavita Poddar
SPECIAL FE ATURE
Steam Punk
Autumn, when the evenings begin to draw in and flowers become a little scarcer, is the season when Steam Punk-style floral design really comes into its own. the style lends itself perfectly to this time of year, as it makes creative use of accessories and of ten features a richer, darker colour palette
S ome examples of Steam Punk designs in the ‘Gearing Up’ class at the 2025 NAFAS National Show at Gloucester Cathedral (pages 8–10).
lEFt BElOW
Class: Gearing Up Class: Gearing Up
Award: Third Award: Very Highly Commended Arranger: Elbha Walmsley Arranger: Jennifer Noble
SPECIAL FE ATURE
For competitors
If you feel inspired to create your own design or even enter a Steam Punk class in a competition, the NAFAS Competitions Manual (Four th Edition, 2023) defines Steam Punk as: Inspired by the Victorian era/industrialisation/mechanisation. Accessories play a more important role in this style than is usual, but plant material must predominate.
lEFt
Class: Gearing Up Award: Highly Commended
Arranger: Chris Lynch
BElOW
Class: Gearing Up
Award: First
Arranger: William Dixon
SPECIAL FE ATURE
lEFt Class: Gearing Up Award: Second Arranger: Julia Loudon
The designs featured on this page are from the ‘Main Spring Steam Punk’ class at the Devon and Cornwall Area Show 2025 held in Bude
tOP RIGHt
Class: Main Spring
Steam Punk Award: First
Arranger: Angela Chanter
BOttOM RIGHt
Class: Main Spring
Steam Punk Award: Third
Arranger: Liz Hodgson
BElOW
Class: Main Spring
Steam Punk Award: Second
Arranger: Chantal King
SPECIAL FE ATURE
AREA & CLUB NEWS
Kent Floral Ar t
Kent Floral Ar t Area Show
The Area Show, titled ‘Cirque du Fleur ’ was held from 23–25 May 2026 at the Detling Event Centre, Kent. Planned and staged by team leader Anna Ardolino, the show combined floral ar tistry with the excitement and spectacle of the circus, with competition classes inspired by performers, animals, and circus acts.
Visitors were treated to imaginative competition exhibits with class titles such as ‘Jugglers Delight’, ‘Midnight Menagerie’, ‘The Big Top Surprise’, ‘Exotic Extravaganza’, ‘A Clown Spirit’, ‘Cyr Wheel’, and ‘Aerial Elegance’. Competitors interpreted these themes through a wide range of floral designs, from traditional arrangements to contemporary, foam-free exhibits The show also highlighted the strength of floral design within the Area, showcasing both experienced competitors and newcomers. The novice class winner, Marina Thorne, received the prestigious The Flower Arranger Award, reflecting the magazine’s continuing suppor t for emerging talent in floral ar t.
NAFAS CEO Richard Abraham attended the event saying he appreciated the quality of the exhibits and the enthusiasm of members.
ABOVE (L–R) Cecilia Sleap (Kent Floral Art Chair), Marina Thorne receiving The Flower Arranger Award, Sue Thompson (Kent Floral Art President)
Canterbury Flower Club
Club members Dee Hickman and Rosie Cor teen were among those involved in creating the floral decorations for the installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and first woman to hold the role, Sarah Mullally, at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026
The Cathedral Flower Guild was asked to create arrangements featuring foliage, budding branches and a sense of new life. A key par t of the brief was to avoid the use of floral foam and adopt more sustainable methods
Most of the foliage was sourced locally. Guild members gathered material from gardens within the cathedral precincts as well as their own gardens and those of friends who generously allowed them to pick There was a strong sense of pride among gardeners whose foliage would be displayed in the cathedral
As the designs relied almost entirely on foliage, careful attention was given to selecting material with contrasting colours, textures and forms Everything was conditioned and prepared to ensure longevity, par ticularly the material for the floral ruff on the pulpit, where all the foliage was wired and used without water to protect the painted woodwork. Blossom branches, mainly cherry, were monitored in the weeks leading up to the ceremony so that buds opening into flower could be incorporated into the final designs.
The installation included three large pedestal arrangements, two designs beside the Archbishop’s throne and the pulpit ruff Instead of floral foam, the team used traditional metal structures known as Canterburies, which had been stored by the Cathedral Flower Guild for more than 25 years. Long poles, moss-covered cones and wire were also used to provide height and suppor t. For many of the team it was their first experience of working with mechanics of this kind, requiring careful planning and teamwork while also creating new friendships.
Af ter the ceremony, foliage that remained in good condition was retained for use in the cathedral’s Easter arrangements, while the remainder was shredded for use by the cathedral gardeners.
The project proved an exciting challenge and one in which the team was well suppor ted by cathedral staff. The finished arrangements were warmly received and provided a memorable contribution to a significant occasion in the cathedral’s history.
AREA & CLUB NEWS
a large pedestal arrangement using mainly foliage
a sculptural foliage design featuring tall plant material
The pulpit with its foliage ruff
ANNIVERSARY CELEBR ATION S
congratulations to all the Nafas clubs and areas on reaching these milestone anniversaries
20 YE ARS (China)
Pennine Borders Flower Club (Nor th East)
25 YE ARS (Silver)
Dronfield Floral Ar t Club (Nor th Midlands)
Odyssey 21 (Home Counties)
40 YE ARS (Ruby)
Pudsey Flower Club (Nor th East)
45 YE ARS (S apphire)
Bransgore Flower Club (Wessex & Jersey)
Bruton & District Flower Club (S outh West)
Earl Shilton Flower Club (Nor th Midlands)
Harwood & District Flower Club (Flowers Nor th West)
Paddock Wood Flower Club (Kent Floral Ar t)
50 YE ARS (Gold)
S outh Woodham Ferrers Flower Arrangement Club (Home Counties)
55 YE ARS (Emerald)
Bayston Hill & District Flower Club (Flower Clubs of Mercia & Nor th Wales)
Botley Floral Club (Wessex & Jersey)
Caerphilly Floral Society (Three Counties & South Wales)
Deben Flower Club (East of England)
lymm Floral Ar t Group (Flower Clubs of Cheshire)
S addlewor th Floral Ar ts S ociety (Flowers Nor th West)
60 YE ARS (Diamond)
Albrighton Flower Club (Flower Clubs of Mercia & Nor th Wales)
Burwell & District Flower Club (East of England)
Capelle Floral Ar t S ociety (Nor th East)
Guisborough Floral ar t Club (Nor th East)
Whitby Flower Club (Nor th East)
Wickham Market Flower Club (East of England)
65 YE ARS (Blue S apphire)
Malpas Flower Club (Flower Clubs of Mercia & Nor th Wales)
Ballymena
ANNIVERSARY CELEBR ATION S
Ordering back issues of The Flower Arranger
Back issues of The Flower Arranger are available to NAFAS Areas and clubs at the following prices:
2025 £2.50 per copy + postage
2024 and earlier £1 per copy + postage
Please email: info@nafas.org.uk or contact Nafas head office on 020 7247 5567
Ballymena Floral Art Group (NIGFAS) marked its 50th anniversary in April with a dinner at The Carrie Restaurant, Kells and a floral art demonstration by James Burnside (NAFAS National President) Elaine Taylor (NIGFAS Chair) attended the celebration along with founder members Elizabeth Atcheson and Sandra Carson (page 14, top right) Members, many wearing golden floral corsages to mark the occasion, also enjoyed musical entertainment During the evening, Julie Carlisle was presented with the Ivan Watt Trophy af ter winning the group’s floral art competition (above lef t) and Mary Knox received her Honorary Member badge (above right). Two magnificent cakes were cut by Elaine Taylor, Heather Hume (club Chair) and James Burnside (page 14, top lef t, L–R)
Radcliffe Floral Art Group (Flowers North West) recently celebrated its Emerald Anniversary with a luncheon at Bury Masonic Hall. Members and guests enjoyed an af ternoon of floral displays, hospitality and entertainment. A special guest was the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mark Llewellin, who gave a talk titled Les & Roy, Cissy & Ada
Muriel Simpson (above lef t), representing Flowers North West, shared memories of the organisation and the club, while Life President Daphne Abbott (above centre) with Lynne Ashley (above right) paid tribute to retiring committee members and thanked the current team for organising the event. The anniversary celebration marked an important milestone in the club’s history and reflected its enduring commitment to friendship and creativity
Front cover and above
The cover is a detail of an intricate design (pictured above) featuring a range of seasonal blooms and appropriate accessories that was created for the ‘Gearing Up’ Steam Punk class at the 2025 NAFAS National Show held at Gloucester Cathedral.
Arranger Lucy Ellis
Photograph Assaf Frank
NAFAS News is published quarterly by NAFAS 1st Floor, 42–44 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AH
Tel: 020 7247 5567
Web: www nafas org uk Email: info@nafas org uk
Editor Chloë Bryan-Brown
NAFAS NEWS Co-ordinator Lisa Spencer
Email: news@nafas org uk
Acknowledgements Ann Harding, Linda Lyons, Christine Saunders
NAFAS National Chair Nicky Wylie
Design Amanda Hawkes
Printer Warners, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH
© NAFAS 2026
Photographing or copying any pages of NAFAS News is strictly forbidden without the express permission of the Editor
Information for contributors
NAFAS Area and Club News, Anniversar y Celebrations and Good Causes
Areas and clubs affiliated to NAFAS can send in the above for inclusion in the online edition. All text and photographs should be supplied using the email below.
Email: news@nafas.org.uk (please state name of club in the subject line of email message)
Postal address (if you are unable to supply by email): NAFAS News Editorial, 1st Floor, 42-44 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AH.
All copy to arrive by the deadlines listed below. If your entry refers to a club – please include the Area of NAFAS to which your club belongs
Deadlines:
3 November for the Spring issue
3 February for the Summer issue
3 May for the Autumn issue
3 August for the Winter issue
Entries received af ter the deadline will run in the following issue.
Submitting a special feature
If you have something of interest to NAFAS members that you would like featured, please send a suitable image and text (not exceeding 500 words) to NAFAS News Editorial: news@nafas.org.uk
Photographs
Please supply all photos digitally via email. Photos must be high-resolution jpegs.