THE future of a long-running Stourport society may be under threat due to a lack of support.

Members of the Stourport Horticultural Society, which was founded in 1889, are holding a meeting on Wednesday, November 12, where major decisions about the group’s future will be made.

Keith Newman, trustee and former chairman, said the society needs greater support, especially from younger people, to continue.

“After the financial crash in 2008, things started to get a bit tight,” he said.

“Some of the trade stores that came to our shows started to back off which made it difficult to keep funding the events.

“We also have an issue with the age of the group. The current society members are getting on a bit, myself included, so we need younger members to help take us forward.

“The group is not viable in its current state.”

The society had a successful beginning throughout the start of the 20th century, but first hit trouble during the 1960s.

At that time, the membership of the society was ageing and younger members were needed, which led to a group of 12 young people, including Mr Newman, coming together to try and save it.

Mr Newman said: “There are other similar groups in Wyre Forest which are succeeding and I did see – when going around to the different shows – that they would like to know what they could do to help.

“We need people who would like to do what we did in the 1960s and keep the society alive.

“We need to get the word out as the community needs to be aware of what is likely to happen to the society unless we get new people to help and support us.”

The society’s meeting takes place at Stourport Community Centre, in Memorial Park, from 7.30pm.