In order to celebrate the diversity of York’s allotment sites and the dedication of allotment gardeners, in 2023 YACIO launched an allotment best plot competition. Following last year’s success, we are running the competition again in 2024.

Categories

There are two categories of plots:

1. New tenants: for gardeners who took on their plot in, or since, January 2023
2. Established tenants: for gardeners who took on their plot before January 2023

Entry Forms

If you wish to take part in the competition, please fill in the entry form on the York Allotments (YACIO) website: www.yorkallotments.org

If you need a paper copy, please contact YACIO for one.

You can only enter once.

The deadline for entering is 18 June 2024.

Judging

Site judging will take place in the last week of June and the first week of July. If tie-break judging is needed, this is likely to happen in the third week of July.

The panel of judges will include allotment site secretaries, and association representatives, from other sites.

The judging criteria will include:

• Condition of the plot: productive, free of weeds, layout, well maintained and tidy
• Crop quality: range of plants grown (considering the size of the plot), health of plants, disease, crop rotation
• Sustainability and biodiversity: composting, wildlife habitat, encouraging pollinators, recycling
• Where applicable: structures (sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels) in good condition, water harvesting from any structures.

The size of plot will not be a factor in the competition.

NB. To aid judging, your plot should be numbered, and its boundaries must be easy to identify.

Structure of the competition

There will be a winner in each category for each site.

The allotment sites will be grouped into areas, and the site winners will go forward to the Area finals. The Area winners will then go forward to the Overall winner final for each category.

There will be prizes for the winners; it is hoped that these will be awarded at a ceremony during National Allotments Week (12 – 18 August 2024) (to be confirmed).

The details of the winners will be published in a future YACIO newsletter and there may be other local publicity.