THIS year was the first year that local vegetable growing project Farnham Local Food (FLF) decided to enter the competition for the ‘Services to the community’ category of the Surrey Life Food and Drink Award.

This category highlights those initiatives that are committed to their local community, inspire it and make a real difference to others in Surrey.

Once the application had been sent out, a film crew came to FLF’s Dippenhall site to make a 30-second film about the project; this would be shown at the awards dinner towards the end of September.

This took place on one of FLF’s volunteering days, when people spend a few hours helping the growers with any tasks that need doing, and was followed a few weeks later by a visit from a judge to assess the project.

Everyone at FLF was overjoyed when the project was nominated – all thanks to the efforts of volunteer and assistant grower Katie Forman. The other initiatives nominated in this category were Dorking Food Float and Ripley Farmer’s Market.

On the evening of the awards ceremony, the growers swapped their working clothes for some more glamorous outfits.

After some tense hours waiting for the results, they were absolutely thrilled to find out that FLF had won the award in the ‘Services to the community’ category.

It is a real testimony to FLF’s efforts to involve the community and raise enthusiasm for its aims, values and principles – and of course for its vegetables, all locally grown and to organic principles.