We had been invited to the awards ceremony for 'Camden in Bloom' to collect our joint third prize for allotment newcomers.
Allan and Ruth were unable to attend so it was left to Nancy (my four-year-old daughter, fellow gardener/mud pie maker) and I to represent the allotment and collect our prize.
It was a cold dark evening, with a real smell of winter in the air. The leaves had almost obscured the pavement and muffled our footsteps as we found our way in the dark to Waterlow Park. It seemed a curious time of year to be celebrating Camden in bloom.
We were cheerily welcomed at the door and escorted into a busy room where we sat down just in time for the award presentations to begin.
The new category for allotment newcomers was second up - so Nancy and I proudly went up to shake hands with the mayor and receive our certificate and £10 voucher for Camden garden centre. Other categories celebrated by Camden were, best allotment, best balcony, best business frontage, best communal garden/gardening club, best council housing estate, best environmental garden, best front garden and best school grounds.
Those present in the hall ranged from pensioners to school children and for the best part of an hour winners and runners up collected their certificates and prizes. Behind them were photographs of their gardens, allotments or balconies. Brightly coloured petunias or wildlife friendly havens.
It was a heartening experience to see so much dedication to horticulture in that small room. Well done to all of them for brightening up Camden throughout the year and Waterlow park that night and thanks to "Camden in bloom" for celebrating their achievements.
