Housing estates enter garden and greenhouse contest

Gardeners in London’s housing estates are being invited to enter a competition to battle it out for superiority.

Part of the Capital Growth scheme, Edible Estates will see growers produce fresh fruit and vegetables in teams, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

The competition can be entered by any community garden in the London area measuring more than five square metres.

It must also have been established since 2009 and have provided a clear benefit to local residents.

A number of housing estates have already seen the positive side of such ventures, with one north-west London scheme seeing crime and anti-social behaviour drop after a kitchen garden was created on a vacant concrete lot using a £1,000 grant from Capital Growth.

"This area now has become a focal point for the residents," estate manager Vince Lyons was reported as saying.

"It’s very positive and the feel good factor is terrific."

In other news, Changing Rooms star Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen and his wife Jackie are set to appear at RHS Garden Wisley later this month to reopen its Agriframes Garden.