Blooming lovely family at the heart of accessible Black Isle Show competition
A Highland family from Conon Bridge has been making the Black Isle Show bloom for generations.
For over 33 years the MacKintosh family has been involved in convening the flower show at the annual agricultural show.
While some may be browsing the livestock, others can be found smelling the flowers, glancing at wonky vegetables and perusing crafts.
Speaking about how they got involved in the flower show at the Black Isle Show, current convenor, Gill MacKintosh said: “My mum, first took it on when I was four years old as they needed someone. I’m 37 now so we’ve been involved that long!
Her father, previous convenor Alastair MacKintosh added: “We were just kind of roped in and we enjoy doing it and meeting the competitors and seeing all the exhibitors.”
This year has seen over 80 competitors involved as they have created flower blooms and entered crafts into the competition.
New for this year is the under-five years category to allow younger people to become involved.
Alastair said: “We enjoy seeing the children coming in as they are the next generation!
“As we’ve gone down the track further, the old timers that used to rule the place are now either of ill health or are sadly no longer with us.”
Each year the flower show committee set the categories for the competition and planning for 2025 will commence next week.
Both Gill and Alastair have their own highlights of the competition.
Gill said: “For me it’s seeing all the kids faces when they come in and they have won a prize. They get their money and they can then go and spend it at the show!
“It’s also great to see new competitors coming in and when they win it encourages them to come back.”
Alastair said: “For the first time ever we also had a care home involved from Eilean Dubh in Fortrose.
“They won stuff and were in looking at it last night. It gives them something to concentrate on and we hope to get other care homes involved too.”
The family are now encouraging anyone to enter for next year’s competition.
Gill said: “There are no set restrictions to enter the show and it’s free!
“If you think you can do it then enter! You don’t have to be part of a gardening club! You can just be a regular person who thinks a rose looks good! to enter - if you think you can do it, then enter!”
It’s hoped that Gill’s daughter Spencer Clement will be the convenor of the flower show in the future.
