A CRUNCH point has been reached for Bow and District Garden Club.

The Club was formed in 1981 and for decades it flourished.

Unfortunately, since Covid and lockdowns, membership of the club has dwindled and efforts are now being made to increase membership and revive the organisation.

Ian Lakey, treasurer, explained: "In its first couple of decades the club flourished.

"As well as monthly meetings which almost always included a speaker, the club also held a Spring and Summer Show in the Village Hall.

"There were several visits to gardens and other events held during the year. At the AGM held in December there would be a three-course dinner.

"As recently as 2010 the club had in excess of 40 members, while back in 1993 the committee alone contained 14 committee members.

"At monthly meetings there were plant sales, a raffle and a monthly competition with points awarded accumulating towards a prize at the end of the year.

"Whilst it seems that membership had been on a downward trend in the years prior to Covid, it appears that as with so many other clubs and organisations the Covid period had a profound effect on the club and its membership from which it has never really recovered.

"In recent years a small committee of never more than six and sometimes only three has fought a valiant battle to try and reinvigorate the club and resurrect many of the former activities.

"We would love to have put on a show but couldn’t muster the support needed.

"We have organised an annual visit to RHS Rosemoor as well as other gardens, but support has been patchy.

"Monthly meetings are now only held every two months and membership has fallen below 20.

"Recent resignations from long standing committee members have left the club with only one remaining committee member.

"A crunch point has been reached. At our AGM in November we failed to find anyone else willing to join the committee despite the current members wishing to see the club continue. It was therefore agreed to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting in January which will decide the fate of the club.

"We are trying to promote the EGM and the existence of the club as much as possible before that meeting and also to explain the perilous state that the club is in.

"Hopefully that will spur a few more people into attending the meeting and perhaps join, and even step forward to stand for a committee position!

"We would really welcome anyone who is interested in joining as a committee member or as a member.

"Our bi-monthly meetings are in Bow Village Hall, on the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November, starting at 7.30pm.

"For further details, I can be contacted at the following email address: [email protected] ."

The EGM will be held at Bow Village Hall on Monday, January 13 starting at 7.30pm and all are invited to attend.