This was begun when flower arranging clubs and societies joined together in 1959 and formed the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) with help and advice from the Royal Horticultural Society. The Association has been a unifying and guiding influence to thousands of men, women and juniors whose love of flowers has opened up a new world of creativity.
Within NAFAS there are demonstrators, judges, speakers and teachers of flower arranging and each has its own Standing Committee.
There are also Standing Committees to oversee other work of the Association and these Committees meet regularly at Osborne House.
In 1984 NAFAS was granted charity status in recognition of its educational aims and activities.
With about 55,000 members NAFAS ranks amongst the most notable specialist National Associations in the UK.
Each of the 21 Areas within the UK is organised on similar lines to the parent association and arranges their own events such as educational facilities, flower festivals, demonstrations and training for Area judges, demonstrators and speakers.
Within each Area there are clubs which again are responsible for their own organisation. The clubs usually meet monthly when there might be a flower arranging demonstration, talk, workshop, competition or other social event. Clubs often organise flower festivals and garden visits for their members.
Around the country the skills of NAFAS members may be seen, whether in church, cathedral, hospital, hospice, stately home or horticultural show. Flowers are regularly arranged in Westminster Abbey and a gold medal at Chelsea was first awarded to NAFAS in 1975. NAFAS is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and regularly exhibits at their shows. A bi-annual show and competition is held at venues across the UK which is open to the public.
NAFAS is affiliated to the World Association of Flower Arrangement Societies which holds a triennial show in different parts of the world.
Since its inception NAFAS has had teachers who have taught flower arranging skills at National, Area and club events. NAFAS is now a ‘hub provider’ of educational courses and as such is able to offer teachers recognition for locally run courses where these are not provided by the Local Education Authority. NAFAS also runs the NAFAS Course in Floral Art & Design and the NAFAS/OCN Credit4Learning Teacher Training Course. Three times a year the educational journal Insight is published which is available by subscription and details may be found on the NAFAS website.
The Flower Arranger is a superb, full colour quarterly magazine available from High Street newsagents, or on order from your own club.
Littleport Flower Arranging Club meet at 7pm on the second Friday of the month. They have expert demonstrators and speakers.