A CACTUS enthusiast is hoping his plants will bring home the silverware from the Dorset County Show for the 17th year in a row.

David Ennals, 56, of Toller Porcorum, has been exhibiting cacti and flowers at the event and accumulating accolades since 1994, when he first won the top prize in the cactus class.

For the past two years, his incredible cactus displays – which are made up of 80 or 90 cacti – have also won the Townsend Perpetual Cup, in the open horticultural display section.

Mr Ennals, who is chairman of the parish council for Toller Porcorum, has been interested in cacti since the age of 12 when his mother brought one home for him.

He said: “I entered the Dorset County Show for the first time in 1994 and won it and I have won it every year since. But because that particular class only attracts eight or nine entries, I got a bit bored with winning so two years ago, when the show was a quagmire of rain and mud, I entered the horticultural competition and was delighted to win the Townsend Perpetual Cup.

“Then I was amazed to win it the next year as well.”

Mr Ennals is a member of the British Cactus & Succulent Society and also on the Dorset County Show horticulture committee.

He grows the plants – he says he has hundreds – and his wife Jane arranges them.

“I grow them in five greenhouses and a small conservatory and it costs an arm and a leg in paraffin and electricity during the winter to keep them above freezing point.

“Last winter was a nightmare and I did lose some, although some are very tenacious.

“I know they live in the desert where the nights are very cold but desert air is dry, but over here our cold is humid and it has a negative effect on cacti and makes them rot and other dreadful things.

“But it is always very exciting in May when they all come in to flower and look absolutely beautiful.”

David said that anyone wanting to grow cacti can buy them from garden centres and should also visit the British Cactus & Succulent Society website. The society does not have a group in Dorset, but there are representatives in Somerset, Wiltshire and Southampton.

He said: “I only do it for the love of the hobby. It is not about winning prizes, but it does give you a lift to see the reaction of people when they see the display and, at least over the past two years, I hope I have encouraged others to grow some of these fascinating plants.

“This year I will be coming back to see if I can defend my trophy – it would be nice to see if I can do it 17 years in a row.”

Dorset County Show is at Cokers Frome showground on Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5. Parking is free at the showground and if using public transport, take the train or bus to Dorchester and pick up a First Buses service, which will be running frequently from Dorchester to the Showground from 7.35am to 5.08pm.

An advance adult ticket is £10. Entrance is free for children aged 16 and under. You can buy tickets online at dorsetcountyshow.co.uk or from tourist information centres in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Wimborne, Blandford, Wareham and Swanage.