2025 Plot Holder of The Year

The Plot Holder of The Year 2025 is Helen (Plot 31A, B, C). Here she is surrounded by some of her famed dahlias.

The theme for the judging this year started off a bit vague with brain storming sessions throwing up ideas like ‘weed free perfection’, ‘professionalism’, ‘enjoyment’, ‘variety’, ‘balance’, ‘experimentation’ , ‘beauty’- and lots more positive adjectives thrown into a pot and stirred. Then we tramped round site looking for a plot that best embodied this descriptive concoction.

‘Weed free perfection’ was nowhere to be found but when we arrived on Helen’s plot lots of our descriptive words came to life.

Comments by Judge Peter

There is an interesting mix of fruit, flowers and vegetables divided into sensibly sized growing areas. There is a lot happening on the plot, but good balance is maintained with the use of clearly defined cultivation beds and nicely edged paths between the beds. There is a wildlife pond, so a feast for lots of little creatures as well as a feast for the eyes of human visitors. Good use of netting for plant protection and support. There are different types of netting in use to suit the needs of different types of plants. Some careful cultivation around trees. There is good weed management. You can sense the enjoyment the plot holder is getting from her plot. Congratulations to Helen.