- Council provides funds to help small businesses
- Financial help for keeping warm this winter
- Improve your health at York House
- Heathrow's airtrack train plan criticised
- Have your own say on Academies
- Mayor's Christmas invite
- Net closing on Council Tax cheats
- Step pedal jump your way to rugby!
- Borough has the lowest level of alcohol fueled crimes in London
- Play safe at Halloween warning
- Enjoy a week of entertainment at Heathfield centre
- Spreading the safety message
- New funding agreed to combat the recession
- Support your local lollipop person
- Disappointment as Boris' public transport costs rise
- Ham and Petersham win £100,000 for low carbon zone
- Borough children's favourite nursery rhyme revealed on Bookstart Day
- Eastender at East Sheen Library
- Destination Richmond
- Green fingers win prizes for winning allotments
- Free flood warnings for residents at risk in Richmond
- Huge turnout for older people's event
- RISE event success
- Best Cemetery Award for Richmond and East Sheen
- Take part in Black History Month celebrations
- World Sight Day celebrated
- Question time comes to Richmond
- 2M fears local people may loose out to Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC)
- 1,000 people control their social care budgets
- £2.85 million for new homes
- Richmond Council confirms sponsor for Shene Academy
- Richmond Council extends CO2 parking
Release Date: 12/10/2009
Green fingers win prizes for winning allotments
Green fingered residents were rewarded for their gardening successes in the Richmond 2009 Allotment Awards this week (5 October).
The trophy for the best allotment was presented to Kieran, 76, and Denise, 69, Scragg, whose large fruit and vegetable plot came top out of the 2000 other allotments across the borough.
Denise Scragg, whose crops range from blueberries to parsnips, said: “We have been entering the competition for the last four years so we are delighted to finally be the overall winner.
“The allotment awards really do give us something to aim for throughout the year, inspiring us to keep the plot tidy and make sure we compost waste and rotate the crops.
“A few years ago the council cleared some of the site in Hatherop Road to make way for new plots which has resulted in more young families taking up allotments and provides a nice community feel.”
The judges looked at the variety and quality of crops, cleanliness and disease control, crop rotation and general layout of the plot.
Garden vouchers were also given to the first, second and third place area winners in Richmond, Twickenham, Hampton and Barnes.
To celebrate the long term commitment of some of the most dedicated enthusiasts, four allotment holders were recognised for maintaining their patches consistently for the last 50 years.
Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “I would like to congratulate the winners of the 2009 Allotment Awards; these plots provide a shining example of what residents can do with a small plot of land and the contribution they can make to sustainable living.
“Growing your own food is not only a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way of getting fresh fruit and vegetables, keeping an allotment is also a great way to keep active and is suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
“As residents become more aware of the benefits of organic fresh food and allotments are increasingly popular we are currently finalising the Allotment Strategy which will see a range of improvements and measures to help manage this demand.”
There are over 2000 plot holders on 24 allotment sites across the borough.
View the full press release