Councillor Bob Horrocks, chairman of North Mymms Parish Council hands the Best Kept Allotment cup to three-times winner Freddy O'Hare at his allotment at Station Road, Welham Green Camera courtesy of Fujifilm

It was three wins in a row for horticultural enthusiast Freddy O’Hare when he picked up the cup for North Mymms Best Kept Allotment 2004.

Freddy, who reckons he spends up to 400 hours working on his Welham Green plot each growing season, has been keeping family and friends supplied with home-grown vegetables and fruit since 1996.

His allotment is one of several owned and rented out by North Mymms Parish Council. Each year the council votes on the top plot. According to the chairman of the parish council, councillor Bob Horrocks, it was very close this year.

“The competition was very strong and a number of allotments were challenging Freddy for first place, but in the end the vote went to Freddy. It is well deserved,” he said.

The allotments are judged on several criteria, including how the site is used, the variety of crops grown, the success of the crop, whether the plot is kept weed-free, and the general appearance of the site.

Freddy said he was proud of the achievement. “It is the only cup I have ever won,” he said. The 67-year old from Welham Green took up the allotment when he retired. “Growing your own food is like sampling fine wine. Once you have, you are reluctant to settle for mass produce products again,” he said.

You can discuss allotments in a thread running in this site's forum. If you want to find out more about allotments by writing to North Mymms Parish Council at the council offices, 1 Bushwood Close, Welham Green, Hatfield, AL9 7YZ or phoning on 01707 268418. Allotments can also be rented from Welwyn Hatfield District Council. Click here for more details.

6 August 2004