Welcome to the North West Area of NAFAS
Welcome to our website, which you may have found as you search to find out more about flower arranging in the north west of England. Throughout this site you will find all the information you need regarding floral art in this area, which covers the counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, part of Greater Manchester and the Isle of Man.
We are passionate and dedicated to the promotion of flowers within the community. Our clubs offer a friendly place for men and women of all ages, who are interested in learning more, and when they visit our clubs they will find a warm welcome and a helping hand.
In fact, there are more than 75 clubs in The North West Area and there is sure to be one near you. Click on a region on the map to find your nearest club and details of their events.
Most clubs meet once a month and you are welcome to visit to see what is on offer and hopefully join us as a member. There is a wealth of talent within the clubs offering helpful advice, whether you are a beginner wanting to learn or a more experienced flower arranger. In fact, if you just want to watch the wonderful demonstrations then that is reason enough to visit.
The flower clubs pay host each month to talented demonstrators who delight the audience as they produce breathtaking floral displays. This is where the inspiration flows and the latest skills and techniques are passed on for everyone to enjoy. At the end of the demonstration these designs are raffled to raise funds for the club ~ it’s such a delight to win one!
In addition you will find each club organises visits to gardens of special interest, flower shows, national competitions etc. There are also workshop days which are a “hands-on” opportunity for a chance to be tutored by the experts and are always a lovely social event. The workshops cover many interesting topics from Floristry techniques, Christmas decor, Wedding arrangements, Craftwork, Traditional & Contemporary work. The number of workshops (and their scope) has increased over the years due to popularity for members and because they offer a great day out at an economical cost.
The North West Area has many Special Events throughout the year which are detailed on this website. Our next Christmas event 'Christmastide' will be held at Lytham Hall from 3rd to 6th December 2009, for further information please see out Events page. As we approach our Area’s GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY you can be sure this will be celebrated by floral abundance.
The North West Area is one of 21 Areas throughout the United Kingdom and we are affiliated to The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (www.nafas.org.uk). We are a registered charity (reg. no 517215) and each year our clubs participate in a multitude of flower related projects generating funds for local and national causes.
One of our greatest achievements is to be the Area which formed the first Junior Flower Club and now we have six Junior clubs. We are very proud of these talented youngsters who regularly enter competitions and win prizes to everyone’s delight.
We also have more Area demonstrators and National demonstrators within our clubs than any other Area in NAFAS. Our members include many medal winners from prestigious competitions such as The Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court. Many of our more experienced members participate strongly at National competitions and International Shows where they are regular award winners.
Development
We have an active Teachers Association which offers more in-depth teaching demonstrations, and members can subscribe to INSIGHT the national in-house teaching magazine.
Our Demonstrators group encourages talented members to progress to sharing their skills for the benefit of other clubs. There is a Judges group to gain the qualifications necessary to become a judge at competitions. The Speaker’s group will help members wanting to gain confidence at public speaking (for any reason) to participate and learn this useful skill. Members in these groups can develop further and often go on to take a national qualification.
The Golfing club is another society for any member who wishes to join and they meet at various excellent golf clubs in the north west. The Golfing club also holds its own competitions.
Photography plays a part within our Area and members can participate in both club and Area competitions. There is also an opportunity to enter the National photography competition.
Area Fellowship is for long standing members who meet to enjoy Spring and Autumn luncheons ~ they have a combined wealth of talent and floral appreciation.
Sometime ago the phrase “FUN, FRIENDSHIP and FLOWERS” was coined. We still feel strongly that this applies today, as there is a lot of pleasure to be had from making new friends and learning new skills within the clubs.
Please enjoy exploring our website and take the step soon to find out more about a club in your area. You will be made very welcome when you choose to join us.