Ballymena Floral Art Group — Report to Charity Commission Date from 1/5/24 to 30/4/25
Contact Address
Julie Carlisle 15 Tudorvale Ahoghill BT42 1RA
Charity Trustees
Mrs Karen Frew (Vice President), Mrs Heather Hume (Chairman), Mrs Ross McGookin, Mrs Julie Carlisle, Mrs Colleen Hamill, Mrs Betty McClean, Miss Barbara Irwin, Mrs Adeline Cherry, Mrs Linda Calderwood.
The club is governed by its constitution as adopted on 17°" May 2022 by members in the Annual General meeting.
Purposes
The purpose of Ballymena Floral Art Group is to advance the education of individuals in the creative art of flower arranging.
To advance education in floral art and design for the benefit of the public in Ballymena and the surrounding areas by providing opportunities for the public to learn and appreciate all aspects of floral art and design.
Main activities in support of the club’s purposes
May 2024— Annual General Meeting — position of those remaining and new members on the committee:
President — Sandra Carson, inactive due to ill health, Vice President Karen Frew, Chairman Heather Hume, Vice Chair vacant, Secretary Ross McGookin, Assistant Secretary Linda Calderwood, Treasurer Julie Carlisle, Assistant Treasurer Barbara Irwin, Sales table Colleen Hamill, Flower Arranger Representative Adeline Cherry, and Media Officer Betty McClean.
The election was followed by a floral demonstration ‘Ikebana’ by Mary Pearson.
June 2024 — Members visited a local garden and shop, Ballyreagh House. We were welcomed into one of their exceptional art glass houses set up as a reception area for refreshments and a delicious selection of tray bakes. A converted barn hosted a magnificent boutique shop filled with homewares and soft furnishings. We strolled through the gardens, which took the outline of many smaller gardens connected via paths. Ballyreagh House sells paving and glass houses, areas were set up with different schemes of planting to reflect different styles of gardening, outdoor seating and dining areas. From cottage gardens and vegetables to cut flowers, woodland areas and water features.
September 2024 — Members all welcomed back after the summer break by Heather Hume — Chairman. Members were enchanted by Maureen Mulligan’s demonstration titled “ Autumn Splendour”. Maureen kept us entertained with many a story and joke sharing some hints and tips along the way.
October 2024 - Members were entertained by Elaine Taylor from Lower Bann Club. Elaine is a very talented lady demonstrator, judge, speaker and several Gold medals from Chelsea under her belt. “Abracadabra” was the title for the evening. Elaine used a wide variety of garden foliage in her
designs and for those of us interested in creating a backbone for your garden and to have a readily
available supply of foilage. Elaine was very good at sharing the names of the plants Fatsia, Peony
tree, Hebe Silver Anniversary, Rubus, Forsythia, Cotoneaster wire bush and Fatshedera.
November 2024 - Saw us hold our Open Night in Leighinmohr House Hotel Ballymena. Brian Shiells was our demonstrator and created a fabulous display for the evening entitled “Festive Frolics”. Although his designs were elaborate they were styled with Christmas ornaments and would not look out of place ona mantle or entry table. As this was an Open Night, members from other clubs were welcomed along with visitors and prospective new members. This also meant, there was a great variety within the club competition, not just from our own members, but from many esteemed demonstrators, judges, speakers and teachers throughout the floral art sector in Northern Ireland. Refreshments followed with homemade shortbread tea and coffee.
December 2024 — Our only workshop 2024/2025 season was held as a Christmas theme with demonstrations from our own members Karen Frew and Colleen Hamill. Members created Christmas pittas with place mats as table centres, oasis was placed in a container and wrapped in the placemat. Therefore, we could all create something that worked with our colour schemes at home. Members did have to bring a selection of decorative seasonal items. And then wooden Christmas stars made from cuttings of willow or dogwood. These could be any size made for a table with a candle or made to hang. Avery versatile piece. Festive supper was organised for everyone and concluded witha raffle for a Christmas Hamper which was won by Moyra Mills.
January 2025 — Our very own “Golden Girls” Ross McGookin, Mary Knox and Janet Wilson created 3 very different designs for a teaching workshop. Muriel Harkness who was unable to attend sent a parallel floral design. This was a fabulous night for newer members as we heard of each ladies entry into the world of floral art. From evening courses at Technical College, nights with WI and starting as a young cub in Young Farmers competitions to now mentoring the latest young farmers, church displays and much more. A mix of fresh and dried material was used and also plants and bulbs for a landscape piece.
February 2025 - Was our, inter club quiz night with members from Lower Bann Mid Ulster and Antrim clubs in attendance. There were seven rounds in total, fresh plant ID, dried flower and seedhead ID, general knowledge, plant material or not, famous faces, anagrams and a music category. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves as we were 20 minutes over our time scheduled for food. We had a warm selection of food and goodie bags for the winning team. A cheque was handed over to Mark Forsythe from Lighthouse Men’s Hostel in Ballymena as the chosen charity this year.
March 2025 - Members were entertained by the talented James Burnside and his interpretation of “It’s the Season”. Plenty oftulips, daffodils and iris followed as we celebrated Spring, moving into a fully green arrangement as our meeting was held just after St Patricks Day, and then onto autumnal pieces incorporating fruits and nuts. James presented many craft elements within his work. Reel wired cobwebs, tissue hankie mushrooms, a wreath ring covered in wool as a bouquet holder and a canvas adorned with test tubes, much like a piece of wall art. Some of these pieces were form free, which lends towards sustainable floristry.
April 2025 - Joan Lockhart took to the stage at ur annual awards dinner held in Leighinmohr House Hotel. Her title for the evening was “When its Spring Again”. A fabulous evening was had by all who attended. From the get go Joan was on top form bantering with the audience. It was truly an enjoyable evening with lots of laughter and hearty food. Joan created the most spectacular floral arrangements, from the simplicity of using block colour creating a master piece, a triangular design based upon a homage to a gardener and placed upon a chair. There were plenty of nods to the Easter season in both paying respect to religion and of more childish adventures of chocolate egg hunts.
How activities have provided a benefit to its beneficiaries
The beneficiaries are members of Ballymena Floral Art Group and their friends and family together with members of the general public who attend meetings and public events such as the Open Night and the Garden visit. Our chosen charity for the year was “Lighthouse Men’s Hostel Ballymena” which received a donation from the club. In addition, our members organise the floral art competitions at Ballymena Agricultural Show and actively encourage young people to take part by sponsoring prizes for all entries in the Junior Under 12 section.
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MWNnGen........ Heather Hume - Chairman Date 31 May 2025