Loughton Horticultural Show and Town Mayor's Best Allotment Awards
Published: 19 September 2019
The afternoon proved to be a delightful and successful community event, with double the amount of entries from last year’s inaugural show. Exhibits included summer themed floral arrangements, beautiful blooms, an array of assorted flavoured chutneys and jams, home baked Victoria sponge cakes and tables laid full of prize worthy vegetables and fruit!
Judging took place in strict judging conditions, Loughton Town Council are extremely thankful to the Judges and Volunteers who gave their time and expertise in making the show a success
Winners of the Best in Show went to Pat and John Thompson, with their basket of seasonal vegetables grown at their allotment plot on the Roding Road Allotments and Leisure Gardens Association.
Young Samuel Hurst won the best decorated biscuits.
The public were treated to a plant sale with a wonderful selection of hardy perennials, and winter bedding from Matthews Plants, and teas and coffees were served with mouth-watering homemade scones and delicious cakes - All donations on the day were raised for the Epping Forest Foodbank
Judging took place for the Town Mayor’s Best Allotment in Loughton, now in its 11th year, in July with plots from the Loughton Potato Ground, the Roding Road and Willingale Road allotments. Over 200 allotments were inspected by shortlisting volunteers, from these shortlisted plots the final judging was made on 22 July by Ray How a representative of the National Allotment Society.
The prize presentation took place at the end of the Horticultural Show on Saturday 7 September. The winner was Brian Smith from the Loughton Potato Ground. This is his fifth time of winning the award!
Brian was presented with the Horticultural Association Challenge Cup by the Town Mayor, Cllr Stella Murphy, along with a £25 garden voucher and a certificate. Ray How commented that the plot was “a traditional plot, extremely well grown with a wide range of crops, both fruit and vegetables”.
The Town Mayor’s Best Newcomer award was made to Gina and Alan Plenderleith from Willingale Road Allotments who received the new comers shield and a certificate and also the Best Allotment on site award for the Willingale Road Allotments. Ray was amazed at the use of containers and the variety of plants, which was unusual for newcomers.
Also receiving an award for Best Newcomer and Best Allotment on site at the Roding Road Allotment was Duncan Ives. And Best Newcomer on the Potato Ground went to Amy and Hari Singh. Highly Commended winners were awarded certificates, Sandra Geraghty, Jan Boucek, Gissi Loton, Lesley Southgate and Di Rhodes from the Potato Ground, Bill Meeson from Roding Road Allotments and Teresa Witham, Louis Sargent, Tom Egan and Sue Threadwell from Willingale Road Allotment site.
Six other allotment holders across the three allotment sites were commended for their efforts and also received certificates.
If you would like information about vacancies on local allotment sites contact the town council.