When the results of the annual site and plot competitions were announced in July’s News and Notes, it was said that there had been no entries this year for the Ted Green Memorial Award. Named after Ted Green, who was for many the secretary of the Federation, it is an award for an outstanding community initiative by an allotment society during the previous twelve months.

However, after the closing date for entries, we received a submission from the Pointalls and District Allotment Society which, in the opinion of the judges, described a project that was clearly worthy of the prize.

The society has successfully hosted the Barnet Refugee Service Sowing Seeds Project since its inception in April 2015.  This has seen a neglected 5.5 poles plot become alive with beds of flowers and vegetables, each section assigned to different refugees. It has given the participants not only a chance to enjoy the benefits and well-being of gardening, but also to use this as an opportunity to learn English, picnic and socialise

The committee therefore decided to allow the rules to be waived in this instance and to award the prize to Pointalls. Further details of the project may be found by following the link on the website at barnetallotments.org.uk/siteandplotcomp.ph.

The Ted Green cup will be presented, together with the prizes for the site and plot competitions, at the prize-giving meeting at Rathbone allotments on October 17.

Hushang Balyuzi
BAF Chair