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The first attempt to start a club in Cardiff was made by a Mr Colin Eyres in 1981. There is, in the club library a copy of a leaflet on bonsaiwhich was taken from a British Bonsai Association club booklet, with a sticker on it saying Cardiff Bonsai Society, Chairman Founder and Editor, C.Eyres, with the address 70 Coed Cochwyn, Llanishen, Cardiff. The club petered out, due to lack of support, but there was still a need for a club this side of the Bristol Channel.
The next attempt was made by Carl Terry and John Sanger, in association with the Majoes. Notices were posted in garden centres and put in the local newspapers, and the first meeting was held in the Beulah Church Hall, Rhiwbina in Sept 1989. 20 members were signed up. Dan Barton was invited to talk in Nov 1989, and there was almost immediately a membership list of 54 people, many of whom are still members. The club's instant success proves that there was a need.
There have been quite a few fluctuations to the fortunes of the club, based mainly on the number of members. Other clubs started in South Wales, and the membership was split, dropping the number of members in Cardiff to about 20, and making it more difficult to survive. In 1993 problems started to occur, and Mick & Barbara introduced us to the Bethel Church Hall in Whitchurch, and we have been pleased to meet there since June 1993.
In 2012 Cardiff Bonsai Club was part of the organizing group for Bonsai in Wales at Tredegar House, which was a national event, staging some of the best trees in the country, and holding demos of international standard. This was the third major show held in Wales and there was an emphasis on trees of Welsh origin. The support and enthusiastic participation of the bonsai fraternity made this a very successful and enjoyable event.
In 2013 the National Trust took over the running of Dyffryn Gardens and there was some uncertainty about our annual show, but after a late arrangement being made, we did have a show at the gardens as usual.
2014 was another year of change, we moved to the Scout Hall at Christchurch, on Lake Rd North, adjacent to Roath Park, with a vacancy for a Tuesday booking, so we changed not only our venue but the evening on which we met.
In 2018 we didn't hold our show at Dyffryn Gardens for the first time since 2000. We put our efforts towards a larger show at the Riverfront in Newport, which was a spectacular venue. In 2019 we our Roath Park which worked surprisingly well - we we had a steady stream of visitors and everyone enjoyed the day on August Bank Holiday Saturday. Then Covid and a long gap and 2022 we are at St Isan Church Hall Llanishen. |
