YORK’s top “plotters” have had their green-fingered work rewarded.

Some of York’s outstanding allotments were highlighted in the city’s new Allotment Awards.

The best plot competition has been relaunched by City of York Council, after an interval of ten years, to celebrate the regeneration of the city’s allotment sites. More than 1,000 tenants now garden on York’s 16 council-run allotment sites, up from a low of 600 in 2003.

Allotment tenants were asked to nominate two plots and then a panel of judges chose winning plots for the north, south, east and west of the city. The competition was sponsored by Brunswick Organic Nursery, Deans’ Garden Centre, Vertigrow Garden Centre and local woodsman Nick Milner. Prize winners received gardening tokens and traditional, locally-grown beanpoles.

Winners:

North area winner: Audrey Calvert
East area winner: John and Ann Harper and Diana Quinn (joint winners)
South area winner: Sammy Kee
West area winner: Christine Bishop