Very Highly Commended!

[Mrs Dobby]

Sorry not been in here for a while, but had some news that I just had to share!!

OMG!!!!!!

The results of the Trafford Allotment Judging Competition for our site have just been announced, Pat (our fellow beekeeper and site secretary) just rang, there's 3 plots who received a Commended, 4 plots who got a Highly Commended, and 2 plots who got a Very Highly Commended.......... plots 1 & 2, or for those not in the know, both of our plots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its almost as exciting as when in December 2006 I was made MOM on another forum that I know some of us here used to frequent! Lol!



Plot 1 - Very Highly Commended!



Plot 2 - Also Very Highly Commended!! Mind you, its got a few more weeds since it was first judged! Lol!

We both hoped that this year we'd be able to get at least a commended, as we've never got a certificate at all ever before, but neither of us thought we'd ever get one plot to a Very Highly Commended, let alone both of them!!

The prize is a certificate, a framed piccy of your plot and a presnetation from the Mayor of these at the Trafford Gardeners Evening in September! Only problem is I dont like having my piccy taken, and it will be taken with the mayor and then go into the local papers! Lol!

[stupo74]

Hi Suzanne,
"Nice"
All that effort finally paid off then
Your plots look an "Absolute Treat" what a credit to you both.

Don't forget to take the "Carlsberg Veggie Forum" advertising board with you,
when you have the photoshoot with the "Mayor"

By the way, It must have been hard work????? (chap in the pictures, Hubby????) looks a bit "Hung Out"

Back to serious now, well done, We will have to have a word with the "Boss Lady" to get you up-graded to "Expert" Enjoy the "Glory", cheers stupo.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi again Suzanne!!!

It's really great to hear from you again! How are you and Lee getting on?

You have both done absolutely fantastic to receive Very Highly Commended awards from Trafford I know for a fact that their judging is damned tough and they are really stingey with awards - so to receive Very Highly Commended for a plot is brilliant but to be awarded Very Highly Commended for TWO plots is amazing!!!!

Well done Suzanne and Lee - you've worked damned hard from day one (I remember!) and you both really deserve this!!

Keep on posting!!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi LJ,

Thanks for the kind words! We've never gotten so much as a commended before, so getting the VHC was amazing, doubly so as it was for both of our plots! IIRC last year they gave out a total of 32 VHC's, out of 1400+ plots, so its rather special! There hasnt been a VHC on our site for at least 5 years now, so its good for us all! There were also 5 Highly Commended and 2 Commended's on the site too (out of the total 32 plots), so a lot of folks have done really well!

We're both fine, working too hard as usual, I'm taking over a new branch in 3 weeks, closer to home than my old one, so will have more time for allotment and internet, so hopefully will be able to post on here a bit more!

We've now got 6 beehives on our allotment aswell as all the veggies and fruit, we're doing the beekeeping with 2 other neighbouring plotholders, which is good cos we can split the setup costs and the workload! I'm now the chairperson of our site, and we've just gotten permission to take back a tree nursery from Red Rose Forest (they are pulling out die to budget cuts) and as the plot isnt suitable to grow veg (too dry and overshadowed by the bordering trees) we're going to be setting it up as a community orchard!

Lovely to 'talk' with you LJ, hows you and OH? Hipe everything is good with you and your veggies are growing well! Any rhubarb schnapps this year? Lol!

[Mrs Dobby]

For anyone ever thinking of giving up, or facing a huge job of clearing a new allotment, these piccies of how our plots were when we first took them over may just provide some inspiration...........

Plot 2 - our first plot!
2006

8' of weeds!


Old shed - now gone up in flames!


The pond?

And now...........
2010

clear n tidy!


the pond!

Plot 1, our second plot
2008

as it was......


.......as it is now!