A sunny September Saturday saw SF&G members celebrate their achievements with horticultural and animal shows, a photography competition and a change to try traditional crafts including willow weaving and blacksmithing.
Members from all over London travelled to Lambourne End Adventure Centre, and were joined by the past, present and future Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers.
Young people learned animal handling skills, and projects sought horticultural prizes for displays of seasonal produce, with categories including prettiest pumpkin, best bouquet, and best chutney.
The day was rounded off with young Londoners taking part in the adventure facilities at Lambourne End Centre, including caving, archery and abseiling, following by a tug of war fought between project teams.
The winners were awarded trophies made on site, and everyone went home tired and celebratory. This year projects did not bring their own animals, due to Bluetongue, a livestock illness, being present in Essex, preventing livestock travel - so group leaders may have been a little less tired than in previous years.
This was the 26th London Harvest Festival organised by the London City Farms and Community Gardens Association. Well done to all the organisers, to Chris Pounds from Hackney City Farm for MCing, to Rob Gayler and Lambourne End for hosting, to Mudlarks and Calthorpe Community Garden for the food, and to the co-odinator Rachel Schwartz of Hammersmith Community Gardens Association.
To find our who won what head over to https://londonfarmsandgardens.org.uk/the-2024-london-harvest-festival/
And we hope to see you and your produce in 2025!