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    Allotment Competition returns for 2024

    Uckfield Town Council, in association with Staverton Nursery

    We are delighted to announce that the Uckfield Town Council Allotment Competition is returning for 2024 to celebrate the amazing efforts of allotment holders across the town.

    We are also thrilled to welcome Staverton Nursery back once again as sponsors and judges of the competition.

    We have worked with the judges to introduce some changes to the categories this year, and we are retaining the entry form for the Children’s Award and Scarecrow Competition, as well as introducing a new category with entries by nomination; Funniest Vegetable!

    These three categories all require entry by nomination, while the Competition’s other three categories – Best Kept Allotment, the Ecological Award and Overall Winner – will be open to all allotment holders with automatic entry.

    We are hoping that the judging will be able to take place during the first or second week of July.

    Winners will be notified shortly afterwards and prizes will be awarded at the Allotment Conference in 2024, which usually takes place in September.

    The closing date for entries for the Children’s Award, the Funniest Vegetable, and the Scarecrow Competition is on 5 July 2024!

    Click here for the Allotment Competition 2024 Categories and Judging Criteria

    Our Sponsors

    Staverton Nursery was started in 1966 by Mr. Cecil Cottingham, selling produce and plants by the roadside to local and passing trade. Since then, it has developed into a thriving nursery with a vast range of plants, produce, and other stock.

    Growing many plants themselves, the nursery staff are knowledgeable and experienced and will once again be the perfect judges for the Allotment Competition.

    Nomination Forms

    Online nomination forms for the Children’s Award, Scarecrow Competition, and Funniest Vegetable are available to complete in the relevant sections below.

    Please note that this year, the judges will decide which allotments are Best Kept on each site, as well as the Ecological Award winner and Overall Winner.

    We do hope you will take part in some way this year!

    Paper nomination forms are available at the Civic Centre Office if you prefer. They are only for the three categories (Children’s, Scarecrow, Funniest Vegetable) listed above.

    Best Kept Allotment

    There will be a prize of £25 in Staverton Nursery vouchers for the Best Kept Allotment on each of the five allotment sites – West Park, Bell Lane, Ridgewood, Framfield Road, and Bird In Eye.

    They will be judged on the following criteria:

    • Condition of the plot
    • Good workmanship
    • Quality of crops, flowers, fruit and vegetables, and plants
    • Water conservation
    • Encouragement of wildlife
    • Use of recycled materials
    • Condition of paths, garden buildings, etc.

    Overall Winner

    There will be an Overall Winner chosen from the Best Kept Allotment winners from each of our five sites.

    The Overall Winner will have their name added to the plaque held in the Civic Centre, which lists all winners since 2005.

    The Ecological Award

    We are keeping this important category after much positive feedback, and it will follow the mantra of Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.

    You can get creative with bug hotels, bee-friendly plants or engineering, water-saving measures, or anything else that has a positive impact on the environment!

    There will be a prize of £25 in Staverton Nursery vouchers for the winner.

    Children’s Award

    This category is open to children under 16 years of age and also offers a prize of £25 in Staverton Nursery vouchers.

    Children will be able to decide what they want to grow.

    The judges will assess the entries even if they have not yet matured.

    We will provide all entrants with a flag, which will help us easily see the plots nominated when it comes to judging.

    Nominations should be submitted here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GMRG86J

    Scarecrow Competition – A bit of fun, open to all!

    For a chance to win a special Uckfield Town Council prize, enter our Scarecrow Competition!

    Simply enter using the form below and install a scarecrow on your allotment ready for judging in July.

    As with the inaugural edition last year, you can be as creative as you like!

    The judges are really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

    Uckfield Town Council may also also making a scarecrow of its own…

    Nominations should be submitted here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GXRF3PV

    Funniest Vegetable Award!

    New to the Allotment Competition this year, we are opening a Funniest Vegetable Award for all the misshapen veg out there that deserve their moment in the spotlight!

    Whether it’s a curly carrot, ugly onion, or abstract aubergine, you can enter your crops to face off in a clash of the funniest vegetables.

    So don’t throw away those oddities… bring them to show the world, and be in with a chance of winning a special prize!

    Nominations should be submitted here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GXB8SJ9

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