fROM heatwaves to cold snaps and floods, it’s not been a good year for gardeners in Yorkshire.
But despite battling the elements, green-fingered growers across Leeds have still seen their plots coming up roses.
Brian Jenner beat competition from around 120 other gardeners to take the prize for best plot in this year’s Leeds Allotment Competition, run by the Leeds and District Gardeners’ Federation (LDGF) and funded by the city council.
Judges said not only was his spot, at Haleys Field Allotments in Bramley, well maintained with a good variety of crops, it was also innovative.
Phil Gomersall, from the gardeners’ federation, said: “He has a growing roof on his shed, a lot of things around the plot for wildlife and insects, he’s using water more than once rather than wasting it – lots of tiny things that put together make it something different.”
There were also awards for best newcomer Malcolm Reid at Oakwood Allotments; and the new award for best quarter plot went to Ed Freckleton at Lidgett Lane Allotments.
Full-sized plots are around 250 sq m but some sites divide them to provide a more manageable size and satisfy demand as the trend for growing your own shows no sides of fading.
Mr Gomersall said around 1,800 people were now on the waiting list for a plot in Leeds.
And once people get their rakes on a coveted veggie patch, they don’t tend to let go.
At Victory Gardens in Rawdon, there are 41 waiting and just three plots have come up this year. Mr Gomersall explained the appeal: “It isn’t just about the growing – the social aspect is a big thing.
“And it’s healthy, it keeps you active, gives you fresh air and good fresh food.
“You can’t beat having picked a vegetable and stuck it in a pot and eaten it – it’s completely different from the supermarket.”
Prizes will be awarded at the LDGF social in September at the Sheepscar Club in Leeds.
The other winners were:
Best site – Parkside Allotments, Meanwood; best city-controlled site – Lastingham Road Allotments in Rodley; best city-controlled plot – Nora and Ed Buckle, Lastingham Road Allotments; and best city-controlled community plot – East Leeds Academy at Seacroft Hall Allotments.
And as well as handing out awards, LDGF scooped a gold medal certificate for its demonstration allotment garden at the Great Yorkshire Show.
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