The 2022 BHAS Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 24th September at the Communal Garden at Hertford Avenue.

A warm welcome to all the new members who have joined the Allotment Society over the past year. The Society is responsible for the day to day running of the allotments on behalf of Richmond Council and organises events such as the Open Day & Annual Show – as well as a host of other activities that support and benefit the allotment community. If you have any ideas about other events or activities that might be popular with other plot holders then please let us know.

I’d like to thank all the Committee and numerous other plot holder volunteers for their time and hard work over the past year. As a team we aim to keep the five East Sheen sites running as smoothly as we are able. We are always looking for fresh ideas and new people who can help us on our journey – so if you think that you might be able to contribute in any way – please let your site rep know. We would be very pleased to hear from you.

The BHAS remains in good financial standing and any ideas for improvements on the plots can be put forward to your site rep. Additionally, donations were made to four charities, each to receive £500. 

If you are interested in volunteering for the society, please let us know as there remain a few open positions. 

The agenda, minutes, chair’s report, and treasurer’s report can be accessed here:

• Chairs report
• BHAS Treasurer’s report
• Minutes BHAS AGM

It was great to see so many of you at the Annual Show this year. We had lots of impressive entries into the vegetable, fruit, flower and baking categories despite the difficult growing conditions over the summer. We also enjoyed delicious cakes and savoury snacks along with a plant sale and learning more about bees. Take a look at all the winners below and a selection photos from the day.

Thanks to all the volunteers to helped set up and tidy away on the day in addition to everyone who baked cakes and donated plants. Thanks also to Helen Lawrence and Nadia Mackenzie for some of the photos below.

ANNUAL SHOW CATEGORY WINNERS

BHAS SOCIETY AWARDS

• Plot of the Year – Janet Lavender
• Best Newcomer’s Plot – Andrew and Melanie Hall
• Show Person of the Year (for most points scored in show) – Janet Lavender

Class		First place
	VEGETABLES
1	Aubergines x 2	John Padgett
2	Peppers x 3	Janet Lavender
3	Chili peppers x 4	No entries
4	Beetroot x 4 – with 8cm of tops	Pam Islip
5	French Beans x 6 – any colour, any type (keep stalks on)	Ronnie Bendall
6	Runner Bean x 6 (keep stalks on)	Helen Lawrence
7	Carrot x 4 – with 8cm carrot tops	Janet Lavender
8	Courgette x 4	Pam Islip
9	Cucumber x 1	Kate Humber
10	Garlic x 3	John Padgett
11	Marrow x 1- no longer than 38 cm (15 inches)	Black / Armitage
12	Onions x 4 – outer skins only removed (leave 3 inches of stem)	Janet Lavender
13	Shallots x 6	Harriet Graham
14	Potatoes x 4	Terrance Farrar
15	Pumpkin  x 1	Richard Jones
16	Squash x 1	No name
17	Sweetcorn x 2 (with outer leaves)	John Padgett
18	Beef tomato x 4 – with stalks	No entries
19	Cherry tomato x 6 – with stalks	Tally Foster
20	Medium tomato x 4 – with stalks	Andrew & Melanie Hall
21	Mixed vegetables – 1 each of 5 kinds (presentation up to you!)	Max Gold
22	Any vegetable x 1 (this is for any vegetable NOT in the above categories)	Janet Lavender
23	Biggest vegetable x 1	Ronnie Bendall
24	Herbs in a jam jar – please write a list of the herbs you display and place with the jar	Pam Islip
	FRUIT
25	Apples x 4	Black / Armitage
26	Top fruit (pears, plums, quinces, etc.) any kind x 4	Ronnie Bendall
27	Soft fruit, any kind x 10 (where possible leave stems)	Andrew & Melanie Hall
28	Any other fruit x4	No entries
	FLOWERS
29	Mixed flowers in a vase, arrange as you wish	No entries
30	A single variety of flowers in vase	Tally Foster
31	Dahlias x 6 stems, same variety	John Padgett
32	Largest diameter Sunflower Head x 1	No entries
33	Tallest Sunflower plant inc. Head x 1	No entries
	CHILDREN
34a	Aged up to 10 years. Mini garden on a seed tray – create your own miniature garden.	Miles Goodwin
34b	Aged 11 – 18 years. Mini garden on a seed tray – create your own miniature garden.	No entries
35a	Aged up to 10 years. Vegetable monster/pet – decorate and create using vegetables, fruit and/or herbs.	Ruari Milne
35b	Aged 11 – 18 years. Vegetable monster/pet – decorate and create using vegetables, fruit and/or herbs.	No entries
	COOKERY
36	A glass jar of homemade fruit jam, any kind	Diane Black
37	A Victoria Sponge Cake – your family’s favourite recipe	Kate & Stuart  Humber
38	A glass jar of homemade chutney, any kind	Robert Ewing
	MAKE US LAUGH
41	‘Make us laugh’ category for the funniest or weirdest shaped Vegetable or Fruit – open to all ages.	Ronnie Bendall

On Sunday 12th September 2021 we held our first Annual Show for two years. It was brilliant to see so many plot holders return to show their produce and enjoy delicious cakes and tea. Here is a snapshot of the day, showing the excellent array of produce being judged.

Thank you to everyone who kindly volunteering their time setting up, judging, hosting the plant stall and raffle and baking delicious cakes.

We look forward to seeing you again next year.

Congratulations to all our show winners.

Cup winners:

Best Showperson – John Hynd

Best Plot – Dino Franz and Sarah Willard

Best newcomer’s plot – Cath Brooks and Ben Gothard (pictured above).

Show category winners:

Class		1st
	VEGETABLES
1	Aubergines x 2	John Hynd
2	Peppers x 3	John Hynd
3	Chili peppers x 4	John Padgett
4	Beetroot x 4 – with 8cm of tops	Pam Islip
5	French Beans x 6 – any colour, any type (keep stalks on)	John Padgett
6	Runner Bean x 6 (keep stalks on)	Clara Molden
7	Carrot x 4 – with 8cm carrot tops	Diane Black
8	Courgette x 4	Chris Lawrence
9	Cucumber x 1	Clara  Molden & Rob Ayward
10	Garlic x 3	John & Carol Lyons
11	Marrow x 1 – no longer than 38 cm (15 inches)	–
12	Onions x 4 – outer skins only removed (leave 3 inches of stem)	–
13	Shallots x 6	Harriet Graham
14	Potatoes x 4	Diane Black
15	Pumpkin / Squash x 1                                               Joint First	Oliver Family & Fiona Heath
16	Sweetcorn x 2 (with outer leaves)	John Padgett
17	Beef tomato x 4 – with stalks	John Hynd
18	Cherry tomato x 6 – with stalks	John Padgett
19	Medium tomato x 4 – with stalks                         Joint First	Pam Islip &         (no name)
20	Mixed vegetables – 1 each of 5 kinds (presentation up to you!)                                                                          Joint First	Mark Gourley & John Hynd
21	Any vegetable x 1 (this is for any vegetable NOT in the above categories)	Yvonne Langley
22	Biggest vegetable x 1	Oliver Family
23	Herbs in a jam jar – please write a list of the herbs you display and place with the jar	Harriet Graham
	FRUIT
24	Apples x 4	Diane Black
25	Top fruit (pears, plums, quinces, etc.) any kind x 4	–
26	Soft fruit, any kind x 10 (where possible leave stems)	John Padgett
27	Any other fruit	Gary Hazel
	FLOWERS
28	Mixed flowers in a vase, arrange as you wish	Harriet Graham
29	A single variety of flowers in vase	Clara Molden
30	Dahlias x 6 stems, same variety	John Hynd
31	Largest diameter Sunflower Head x 1	John Padgett
32	Tallest Sunflower plant inc. Head x 1	Charlie Armour
	CHILDREN
34a	Aged up to 10 years. Mini garden on a seed tray – create your own miniature garden.	Myles Goodwin
34b	Aged 11 – 18 years. Mini garden on a seed tray – create your own miniature garden.	–
35a	Aged up to 10 years. Vegetable monster/pet – decorate and create using vegetables, fruit and/or herbs.	Myles Goodwin
35b	Aged 11 – 18 years. Vegetable monster/pet – decorate and create using vegetables, fruit and/or herbs.	Oliver Goodwin
	COOKERY
36	A glass jar of homemade fruit jam, any kind	Alastair Kennedy
37	A Victoria Sponge Cake – your family’s favourite recipe	Diane Black
38	A glass jar of homemade chutney, any kind	Pam Islip
	MAKE US LAUGH
41	‘Make us laugh’ category for the funniest or weirdest shaped Vegetable or Fruit – open to all ages.	Oliver Family

Mark your calendars! The Surrey Sharpeners will be at the Hertford Avenue Allotment site on Saturday, 29th May from 10am.

Please do bring along any tools you need sharpening.

Price list is as below.

As mentioned the April 2021 newsletter, later this year we are considering holding in-person events for the AGM and Annual Show. It would be really helpful if you could let us know whether you would consider attending these events, by answering the following questions in a survey we have put together, so we can plan accordingly.

Many thanks for your help with this. 

Unfortunately, this year the Annual Show in September will not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions but we are excited to share more details about a virtual Sunflower Competition. We’ve seen some amazing sunflowers growing on plots across the allotment sites and we can’t wait to see your entries!

Competition rules

Categories & guidance on how to measure

The Annual Show was a great success this year. We had lots of impressive entries into the vegetable, fruit, flower and baking categories. We also enjoyed a delicious BBQ with homemade salads and Victoria sponge cakes along with a plant sale, children’s activities and a raffle. Take a look at all the winners below and a selection photos from the day.

ANNUAL SHOW CATEGORY WINNERS

BHAS SOCIETY AWARDS

• Plot of the Year – John Hynd
• Best Newcomer’s Plot – Dino Franz
• Show Person of the Year (for most points scored in show) – John Hynd
• Best in Baking categories (person with most points) – Natasa Bojkovic

VEGETABLES

1. Aubergines – 1st J. Hynd
2. Peppers – 1st J. Hynd
3. Chili peppers – 1st Harriet Graham / 2nd Kennedy
4. Beetroot – 1st Goodwin / 2nd J. Hynd / 3rd Kennedy
5. French Beans – 1st J. Bostock / 2nd Warman / 3rd Diane McLellan
6. Runner Bean – 1st Kennedy / 2nd Ronnie Bendall / 3rd Goodwin
7. Carrot – 1st Rashid / 2nd J. Hynd
8. Courgette – 1st Kennedy S.A.
9. Cucumber – 1st Rashid / 2nd John + Carol
10. Garlic – 1st John + Carol / 2nd J. Hynd
11. Marrow – 1st Rahul
12. Onions – 1st J. Hynd / 2nd Goodwin / 3rd Harriet Graham
13. Shallots – 1st J. Hynd / 2nd Goodwin / 3rd Rashid
14. Potato – 1st Kennedy / 2nd Harriet Graham/ 3rd Rashid
15. Pumpkin / Squash – 1st Kennedy / 2nd J. Padgett / 3rd Diane Black
16. Sweetcorn – N/A
17. Beef tomato – 1st Rashid / 2nd Deborah Genders
18. Cherry tomato – 1st Pam Islip / 2nd J. Bostock / 3rd Rashid
19. Medium tomato – 1st Pam Islip / 2nd G. Checketts / 3rd Rashid
20. Mixed vegetables – 1st Flo Goodwin / 2nd J. Hynd / 3rd Miles Goodwin
21. Any vegetable – 1st Natasa Bojkovic / 2nd Garry Hazel / 3rd Pam Islip
22. Biggest vegetable – 1st James Duncan / 2nd J. Padgett
23. Herbs in a jam jar – 1st Harriet Graham / 2nd Pam Islip / 3rd Ronnie Bendall

FRUIT

24. Apples – 1st Diane Black / 2nd Warman / 3rd Janet Lavender
25. Top fruit (pears, plums, quinces, etc.) – 1st Ronnie Bendall / 2nd Warman / 3rd Derek Lawrence-Brown
26. Soft fruit – 1st G. Checketts / 2nd Janet Lavender
27. Blackberries – N/A
28. Any other fruit – 1st Garry + Hazel

FLOWERS

29. Mixed flowers in a vase – 1st Harriet Graham / 2nd Rashid / 3rd J. Hynd
30. A single variety of flowers in vase – 1st J. Hynd / 2nd Ronnie Bendall
31. Dahlias – 1st J. Hynd / 2nd Rashid
32. Sunflower – N/A

CHILDREN

33a. Aged up to 10 years. Create an original art piece inspired by the allotments.

1st Florence Goodwin

THE GREAT ALLOTMENT BAKE-OFF

Jam and Preserves

36. Jar stone fruit jam – Natasa Bojkovic
37. Jar soft fruit jam – Diane Black
38. Jar marmalade – N/A
39. Jar lemon curd – Natasa Bojkovic
40. Jar chutney – Diane McLellan

Baking

41. 3 fruit scones – Janet Bostock
42. 5 pieces of any flavour tray bake – Sue Oyler
43. 1 loaf handmade white bread – Janet Bostock
44. Victoria Sandwich Cake – Sue Oyler
45. 1 Vegetable Cake – Diane Black

Children

Age categories:

46. Under 6 years, decorate 4 cupcakes – Aleks Bojkovic
47. 7 to 10 years, decorate 4 cupcakes – George Bojkovic
48. 11 to 18 years, bake and decorate a cake of your choice, any size – Pandora Kennedy

Make us laugh

49. ‘Make us laugh’ category for the funniest or weirdest shaped Vegetable or Fruit

1st Ben (Priory) / 2nd Miles Goodwin