City Harvest Festival
The City Harvest Festival is a major feature on the calendar for London's community gardens and city farms and allows them to showcase their educational and neighbourhood achievements.
Held in the beautiful grounds of Capel Manor College in Enfield, there are plenty of attractions for visitors, including an animal show, where children and young farmers show the wide range of animals kept at London's city farms in a series of competitions. There is also a marquee for vegetables and flowers grown in the city's community gardens and city farms - plus a variety of craft demonstrations.
City Harvest Festival 2010 takes place on 18 September. The festival will be open from 10am until 5pm. Admission Charge: Adults £5.50, Concessions £4.50, Children £2.50 (5s and under FREE) Family Ticket £13.50 (two adults and up to three children).
City Harvest Festival 2009
The London City Harvest Show at Capel Manor College marked its 11th year with a record number of animals on show and a large number of visitors to enjoy the sunny weather. Also attending was (former) Minister of State for Environment, Food and Farming Jim Fitzpatrick MP and his wife Dr Sheila Fitzpatrick, who chatted with many of London’s farm managers (pictured with Theresa Salmon, Farm Manager, Newham City Farm and Chris Pounds, Manager, Hackney City Farm).
There was plenty to do on the day for the crowds, who could admire the horticultural displays, learn about community projects, make an eco-bag, try pottery, observe a blacksmith at work, or simply enjoy the sight of city kids taking ferrets for a walk, and be impressed by their enthusiasm for the animals they showed. Our animal judges said that the standard of animal husbandry was on a par with the Rare Breeds show at Hatfield House the previous weekend.
2009 show winners:
Special Metropolitan Public Gardens Association prizes of £150 for best display were won by King Henry’s Walk for a display from a community garden, and by Surrey Docks Farm for a display from a city farm.
The Horticulture plate was won also won by Surrey Docks Farm.
The trophy for the Animal show was awarded to Vauxhall City Farm, who also won the tug of war trophy.
The blacksmiths’ prize of beautiful wind chimes, forged at the show, was won, for a stunning display of fruit and veg, by Kentish Town City Farm.
Wellgate Community Farm’s Amy Robertson won best young animal handler. The Supreme Champion award for the best animal in show was won by Aspen, a British Saanen goat, also from Wellgate Community Farm.
Thanks to:
- Rob Gayler for organising the show set up, and everyone who helped with the set-up
- Bronwen Wilson for co-ordinating the animal show
- Liz, Pip and Sian and all from Freightliners Farm for all their hard work setting up the horticulture marquee
- Chris Pounds for sterling work as compere
- Simone Uncle and everyone who worked so hard to provide children’s activities in the Have-a-Go tent
- Rev. Roger Gayler for refereeing the tug of war
- Jo, Tom and Sally-Jayne Gallagher for co-ordinating the camp kitchen
- Cathy Maund for the guests’ catering
- Julie Ryan and Capel Manor College
A very special thanks is due to Michael Elliott, who generously gave so much of his time to general site management on the day of the show as well as the show set-up.
Thanks to all our judges Derrick Cutmore, Ray Bowler, Paul Bryant, Josh, Tom Gallagher, Sue Haddleton, Kathleen Earley, Mark and Martin Day, Heidi Seary and Katie Jones-and to Mrs Joyce Bellamy for presenting the MPGA prize.
The show could not take place without the energy and enthusiasm of all those who work to keep London’s community gardens and farms going. This year’s show was also supported by Grassroots Grants Enfield and Waitrose Community Matters. We are always looking for support and sponsorship for the next year’s show so please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you are interested.
Photos: Adrian Lewis www.adiphotos.co.uk
