Celebration of top of the plots and perfet produce

Green-fingered members of Ashford Allotment Society celebrated their summer show at Kennington Junior School on Saturday.

More than 100 people entered the competition classes with produce and flowers grown on their individual plots.

Certificates were presented in the afternoon for plots on all the allotment sites in Ashford borough, and following the judging by Ms Sandra Uden, visitors enjoyed home made cakes and strawberries and cream.

Event organiser Penny Fox said: “We had a lovely show. We had some stunning entries in the vegetable category.

“This year has been difficult for allotment gardening, as it was a wet winter, a late spring with more wet weather and armies of slugs ravaging any crops that survived.

“Therefore even more credit must go to those who entered the show with entries of outstanding quality. Robert Kidd’s winning best vegetables, purple spring onions; one of the exhibits and right; Bill Peckham, winner for best in show

Winners included Robert Kidd for best vegetables with purple spring onions and best cake or preserve with strawberry jam, Mrs Summers for best fruit with eight gooseberries and best flower arrangement in a vase.

Overall best in the show was Bill Peckham for outstanding quality and appearance with two broccoli heads.

Penny added: “The best thing for me is just to see so many women taking up allotment gardening.

“Many new tenants are women who are developing skills and challenge the more traditional notion of an allotment being cultivated by older retired men.

“It is also good to see so many families and young people enjoying the hard work and benefits of allotment gardening.

Ms Emma Dew won overall best newcomer at the Westrees site and Peter Reeves for best overall site in the borough at the Musgrove farm site.

The group will have a stall at the Ashford Pilgrims Hospice Fete on Saturday, August 6.