A pair of avid gardeners from Wolverhampton have been crowned king and queen of the allotment.
Green-fingered couple Allan and Alma Kimber from Penn won the accolade of the Midlands’ Most Abundant Allotment in a competition held by Toby Carvery in association with the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners (NSALG).
The competition challenged allotment gardeners from across the region to put their best veg forward.
Entries were assessed on everything from the range and variety of vegetables grown right through to shape, size and amount.
Over the course of the year, the Kimbers managed to grow over 20 varieties of fruit and veg on their patch, including peas, tomatoes, dwarf beans, beetroot, pumpkins and even blueberries.
Allan, who also raffles off his vegetables and donates the proceeds to local Wolverhampton charities, said he never expected to walk away with the top prize.
“Alma and I have always loved gardening.
“It gets us out into the fresh air and is brilliant exercise,” he said.
“When we saw the competition we thought, ‘Why not?’ but never really imagined we’d end up winning. We really are as proud as can be.”
Alma added: “There’s nothing quite like growing your own vegetables.
“They taste completely different to the ones you buy down at the supermarket.
“We think it’s great that having an allotment has become more fashionable and hope more people catch the gardening bug.”
As well as walking away with the top prize, the Kimbers were also presented with £100 worth of Toby Carvery vouchers.
George Panopolous, manager of the Burnt Tree Island Toby Carvery in Dudley, said: “This is the first year we’ve run the Most Abundant Allotment competition and it’s been a huge success.
“We hope Allan and Alma will come and pay us a visit.”
Allan, aged 71, and Alma, 68, have an allotment at Boundary Way in Penn
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