Summer Show 2016 Report

On Saturday 16th July the Ashford Allotment Show was held for the third year running at the Kennington Junior School.

It was a hot and sunny day and there were over 120 entires all carefully displayed: onions whipped , vegetables and fruit in correct numbers and equal sizes and shapes.

Following the judging by Ms Sandra Uden the hall was open to all and visitors enjoyed home made cakes strawberries and cream and teas refreshments .

This  year it has been difficult for allotment gardening as it was a wet winter a late spring 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 entires of outstanding quality.

Overall winners include

Best vegetables
Purple spring onions
Mr Robert Kidd

Best fruit
8 gooseberries
Mrs Summers

Best flower arrangement in a vase
Mrs Summers

Best cake/ preserve
Strawberry jam
Mr Robert Kidd

Novice tray
Mr Albert Wallton

However by far the best in show was the two broccoli entered  by Mr Bill Peckham for outstanding quality and appearance .

The afternoon also provided an opportunity to present certificates for our annual allotment judging of all plots on all the sites in the borough .

It is especially pleasing to see so many newcomers enjoying the challenges of allotment gardening . It is not easy as the tv programmes suggest !

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

Congratulations to

Ms Emma Dew
Overall best newcomer
Westrees site

Mr Peter Reeves
Overall best site in the borough
Musgrove farm site

Our next event is a stall at the Pilgrims Hospice fete  on Saturday 6th August  so come along and find out more about allotments and support this excellent charity.