Best of local growers produce on display.
Participants of Birmingham’s Health for Life in the community programme were invited to showcase their best home grown produce at the annual Birmingham Community Food Festival & Horticultural Show.
Held at heritage attraction Winterbourne House & Garden, 134 entries from across Birmingham were submitted at the Horticultural Show. Individuals presented a selection of fruit and vegetables to judges, in which several Health for Life participants were awarded for their efforts.
The contestants displayed their produce in 28 different categories, including potatoes, beetroots, marrows, apples, jams and a variety of beautiful flowers and plants.
William Henry won best in show, and Glenn Miranda won best in the Health for Life seed class. Thanh Nguyen won first place for growing the largest sunflower head, while Betty Swan won first prize in the heaviest squash and Health for Life seed growing class. She said: “I’m delighted to have won first prize as I really enjoy growing my own produce, and I would recommend it to anyone as a fantastic way to keep healthy!”
Health for Life is a £3.1 million five year programme which supports activities that engage people in growing food, healthy eating, cookery and physical activity. The programme is funded by the Mondelēz International Foundation, and is being delivered by The Conservation Volunteers and the Health Education Service (HES), working with Life Education Centres West Midlands.
Chris Blythe, Health for Life in the community operations leader for The Conservation Volunteers, added: “The Health for Life Horticultural show this year was a great success, and it is fantastic to see it being part of a much wider event celebrating food, community and heritage across the city. Thank you to everyone who took part in the event, and we look forward to seeing individuals at the next show.”
Visitors at the event were also able to talk to local food producers, growers and suppliers, visit local crafters and attend a range of workshops, including a garden design workshop.
TCV and Health for Life in the community have established and developed 11 new community food growing spaces in South Birmingham. For more information, please visit www.mondelezinternational.co.uk or www.tcv.org.uk/healthforlife