HILLINGDON’S horticultural heroes were celebrating last weekend when the winners of this year’s autumn show were announced.

This highlight in the calendar showcased some outstanding entries.

An impressive 459 exhibits were submitted from residents across 57 categories, ranging from best turnips to vegetable- or fruit-themed works of art.

Entries were judged by a panel led by RHS and Middlesex Guild Judge Gerry Edwards and included the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Shehryar Ahmad-Wallana, Deputy Leader Cllr Jonathan Bianco and members of the council’s green spaces team, which runs the show.

The judges deliberated for more than three hours in the Great Barn at Manor Farm, Ruislip, before announcing the winners.

Scooping one of the two Best in Show awards was Peter Bird, of Harefield Road, Uxbridge, for his two matching cucumbers grown under glass.

He said: We have quite a large vegetable garden and grow all our own produce, it’s just a bit of fun and I like to enter the show.”

Peter has entered the past six autumn shows and believes a secret to his success is avoiding insecticides and keeping it all organic.

He scooped prizes in other categories, including first prizes for both his carrots and onions.

Another prize winner was Susan Munro, from Ickenham, whose detailed drawing of a cabbage was awarded second prize in the Art (Adult), with a fruit or vegetable theme category.

She said: “It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment thing as I’d got other pictures but none with a fruit or vegetable theme.

“It took maybe five or six hours, but I enjoyed the whole process, going to the show and meeting the mayor.”