Jean-Claude Loncle, president of the Society of Horticulture and Floral Art of Saint-Brieuc and Côtes-d’Armor (Shaf) for 20 years, hands over. And for the first time, it is a woman, Françoise Allain, who takes over as president of the association. There have been five presidents in succession so far, “which is ultimately not a lot in 88 years! », laughs the president who intends to ensure “the smooth transition”.
The new president will be in charge of 83 members, i.e. “a stabilization of the workforce in 2025”, notes Jean-Claude Loncle, in his introduction.
Urgent need for new blood
Created in 1937, under the name of Société d’horticulture de Saint-Brieuc, the association was the first to give floral art courses in the department, in 1979, of western floral art and ikebana, Japanese floral art supervised by animators graduated from the O’hara school.
Other workshops are given: pruning and managing an orchard, from grafting to fruit conservation; for pleasure gardens, pruning and managing rose bushes, hydrangeas, and for vegetable gardens, soil amendment and vegetable growing. “Not enough volunteer leaders, it is very urgent to have new blood to continue to exist… Otherwise, the horticultural society will slowly die. It would be a shame with his experience and potential of 88 years. We are ready to train the volunteers,” said the president.
-The fruit center of Brittany
The association is also a member of the board of directors of the Pôle fruitier de Bretagne, created on January 1, 2020, whose goal is to safeguard Breton fruit heritage. More than 180 pear trees have been listed and genetically recognized. In progress for the year 2025, currently 2,460 varieties of cider and knife apples have been listed in the region. Genetic research will follow as well as technical sheets.
Contacts
Françoise Allain and Jean-Claude Loncle, 12, rue Gustave-Eiffel, Saint-Brieuc. Such. 06 30 81 92 21 or 02 96 94 13 66 (answering machine if absent); email to [email protected]
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