TWO national societies - the Alpine Garden Society and Scottish Rock Garden Club - brought a new show to Kendal over the weekend.

The event at Kirkbie Kendal School attracted 83 exhibitors from far-flung places such as Glenrothes in Fife, Bangor in North Wales and Worcester.

But it was Tommy Anderson, of Kendal, who won the Hollett Trophy for the most winning entries in the open section.

Mr Anderson also won an AGS Medal for the best entry in class one - six large plants, all different, and he won the E B Anderson prize for class 45 - six smaller plants, again all different.

Frank and Barbara Hoyle, also of Kendal, were very successful too. Mr Hoyle is chairman of the local group of the Alpine Garden Society, while Barbara is its membership secretary.

They scooped two ‘certificates of merit’ for individual plants grown exceptionally well. But they trumped that by also taking the best in show award for a Cyclamen pseudibericum.

This prize is known as a ‘Farrer Medal’, named after the famous plant collector and rock gardener Reginald Farrer, who used to live at Clapham, and did so much to enthuse the nation with the joy of seeing and growing alpines.

Two photographic displays also gained awards. Alan Oatway, of Newby Bridge, gained a gold award for a display entitled "Go Wild for Great Alpines" while Holehird Gardens, of Windermere, were awarded a silver award for ‘A Lakeland Garden for all Seasons’.

Approximately 300 members of the public joined a similar number of members of the AGS and SRGC in thronging the show for its entire duration.

The show tables groaned under the weight of some 700 plants, and each of the nine nurseries in attendance reported enthusiastic purchasers taking the chance to acquire rare or unusual plants.

The show will return to Kendal next year on March 14.