400 entrants for produce show

12:35pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

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SEVERAL hundred people made their way to the third annual produce show at Whitehall Garden Centre on Saturday.

The popular event gives amateurs, including children, the chance to show off their skills at growing vegetables, flower arranging, cookery and model making.

Christopher Self, who runs the centre with his mother, Phyllis, and sons Mark and Peter said it was the best turnout they had ever had for the show with more than 400 entrants for the 79 classes.

He said: "It was the most successful year ever, we had lots of children enter this year too. "We don't hold it to compete with the traditional produce shows in Chippenham and Corsham - it's more of a fun event, with fun classes.

"We have tried to make it more for everyone to take part in."

Mr Self said members of Lacock Allotment Society came to judge classes and his 100-year-old mother judged some of the cookery entries.

He said: "One of the most popular classes was the miniature garden class.

"We had about nine entries and they were very, very good.

"People had put a lot of time and effort and thought into their gardens and had obviously made them well in advance.

"Children were very excited about coming along too and one of the families there on the day told me their children had been really looking forward to it the night before getting everything ready.

"Apparently the children had been up at 6am on the morning of the show all ready to leave."

Mr Self said winners were given medallions to hang around their necks. He said: "We will definitely be doing it again next year and we won't be changing much as this year was so successful."