The East Markham and Askham Gardeners’ Association (EMAGA) was established at the height of the long hot summer of 1976. Those of us who have been around long enough to remember that summer will know that much in gardening science, and practice has moved on since then.
Through all these changes, enthusiasm for gardening has remained strong and this has enabled the group to thrive. Members will be celebrating the Association’s 50th birthday on Tuesday 12th May at East Markham Village Hall at a ticket-only event.
The Association has had a series of interesting monthly lectures, held at East Markham Village Hall, to educate and inform members about gardening and related topics. These usually have a raffle and refreshments afterwards, giving opportunity for members to have a chat, ask the speaker any questions, and purchase products the speaker may have brought to sell. A great opportunity to buy top quality, and unusual items.
The Association is affiliated with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and has run coach trips to various gardens and events over the years.
Annual membership, running from June to June, provides free entry to the EMAGA shows. The spring show in April has many classes for daffodils, tulips, and other garden spring flowers. The summer flower show is usually held in July. This features roses, and craft items to be judged and awarded a trophy. For these two shows, the members in attendance judge the displays. For the autumn show, held in September, external judges are used. This is an all-day event, held on a Sunday. There are several classes of fruit and vegetables, but also baking, preserving, photography and craft items, and special classes for children to enter, with a small monetary prize, for winners.
There is a trading barn for gardening products, open for a limited time on various Sunday mornings. Although it’s no garden centre, it does offer a 10% discount for members. This was originally an old brick barn on Askham Road, opposite the school. The building was sold and redeveloped into a family home. Trading has now moved to a container at the allotments on Trinity Crescent.
There is an association with the East Markham Annual Apple Day in October. This is run by a separate Apple Day committee but EMAGA has aided in selling raffle tickets and staffing the Heritage Orchard when the apples are sold. The Heritage Orchard was established by the late John Hempsall and still owned by the family. The running of the Orchard was handed to the Gardeners’ Association, and many new / replacement trees have been planted.
The Association is run by a small group of people, who meet for about half-an-hour each month to keep it going. They are always looking for new speakers and subjects, for members. In January 2027 they hope to have a Wassail Event in the Heritage Orchard and Village Hall afterwards.
Find the group on Facebook for more information.