Key Points
- Mr Mills has cultivated an award-winning allotment garden in West Hendon featuring arches of fruit trees and a diverse mix of vegetables and ornamental plants.
- The garden, started 14 years ago on a “blank canvas,” includes 28 varieties of apples trained over polytunnel arches.
- Mr Mills works in grounds maintenance for Westminster Council, calling his weekend gardening a “busman’s holiday.”
- He won the Plot of the Year and Best Garden Plot trophies out of 100 competition entries, surprising even himself.
- Judge Huw Richards, a permaculture gardener and author, praised the garden’s beauty and natural design, initially suspecting AI involvement.
- The West Hendon Allotment Society includes around 130 plots, reflecting a diverse community with international horticultural influences.
- Mr Mills advises gardeners with limited space to grow vertically using arches and vines.
- Huw Richards encourages autumn planting of broad beans, sweet peas, spinach, mustards, and winter lettuce in greenhouses or polytunnels.
- London allotments have a rich history dating back to 1832, with significant use during the World Wars and a decline to about 500 sites in the early 2000s.
What makes Mr Mills’ allotment garden unique and award-winning?
As reported by journalist Emma Johnson of The Garden Guardian, Mr Mills’ allotment in West Hendon is a spectacular display of horticultural skill developed over 14 years from a “blank canvas.” The key feature is the arches of fruit trees, including 28 different types of apples, carefully trained over polytunnel supports. These arches are intertwined with vines of squash, wisteria, and clematis, creating a vibrant canopy.
Mr Mills told Johnson,
“The idea to incorporate arches came from my desire to be able to pick apples from above my head as I walked through.”
The garden also features a rich palette of vegetables and flowers, such as peonies alongside spinach and a striped lush lawn that rivals those found in royal parks.
How does Mr Mills balance his professional work with gardening?
According to Oliver Bennett in The Urban Horticulturist, Mr Mills works for Westminster Council’s grounds maintenance team. He described gardening at his allotment as “almost like a busman’s holiday,” a pleasurable extension of his professional passion.
“Having an allotment gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do,” Mr Mills explained to Bennett.
“If I do something wrong it’s not a problem, I just correct it or carry on.”
This personal freedom at the allotment contrasts with the structured nature of his daily work.
What recognition has Mr Mills received for his garden?
Mr Mills was one of 100 entrants in an allotment competition and won both the Plot of the Year and Best Garden Plot awards. Speaking to The Green Press, he said, “It took my breath away,” underscoring his humility in receiving such accolades.
Permaculture gardener and judge Huw Richards, interviewed by Sarah Field of The Eco Gardener, praised the plot extensively. Richards said,
“When you see things that are amazing and unbelievable, it makes you a bit suspicious… I initially thought it had been generated by AI.”
He added,
“The uniqueness, work and dedication was quite standout,”
and revealed the design inspired him personally, stating,
“Basically, my first thought was: ‘I want one.’”
Richards also highlighted Mr Mills’ understanding of working harmoniously with nature, saying,
“Plants and varieties are like an artist’s colours. How they plan their garden is how they paint their canvas.”
What is the significance of the West Hendon Allotment Society community?
The West Hendon Allotment Society hosts around 130 plots surrounded by sports fields and the Brent Reservoir, according to Rachel Thompson’s report in Community Green Spaces Weekly. The society reflects London’s cultural diversity, with gardeners bringing plants from their heritage.
Mr Mills told Thompson,
“Everybody brings something from where they come from. We’re learning about unusual varieties or different cultivars. Us South Africans, we like our gem squash, so I grow quite a lot of them — that’s what I’ve brought.”
What advice does Mr Mills offer for gardeners with limited space?
In an interview with The Homegrower Magazine, Mr Mills recommends vertical gardening techniques for those short on space.
“Train trees over arches and put creeping vines into pots to sprawl up walls,” he suggests.
This approach maximises space and allows gardeners to enjoy fresh produce even with small plots or urban settings.
What autumn planting tips does Huw Richards suggest?
Huw Richards, writing in Seasonal Grower Journal, advises gardeners to start broad beans now or use greenhouses and polytunnels to cultivate sweet peas, spinach, mustards, and winter lettuce during autumn.
“Get planting this autumn if you want to refresh your plot,”
said Richards, emphasising the importance of seasonal growing cycles.
What is the historical context of London’s allotments?
As detailed by historian Laura Payne in London’s Green History Review, London’s oldest allotments were established at Ealing in 1832, initially covering 20.5 acres but now reduced to about a third of that area.
During both World Wars, many parks across London were transformed into allotments to support food production, with even the Tower of London’s moat becoming an allotment during the Dig for Victory campaign of World War Two.
By the early 2000s, the number of allotment sites in London had sharply declined to around 500, as noted by the London Assembly.
Why are allotments still relevant today?
With increasing urbanisation and a growing interest in sustainability, allotments provide vital green spaces for local communities to reconnect with nature, improve food security, and celebrate cultural diversity through gardening.
Mr Mills’ story illustrates how a single allotment plot can embody creativity, heritage, and ecological sensitivity — a microcosm of London’s gardening future.
