We're inviting entries for this year’s Bolton Cup Allotment Competition.
Who can enter
You can enter the Bolton Cup Allotment Competition if you're a Sheffield City Council allotment holder.
Competition categories
The categories are:
- best kept allotment (over 200sqm)
- best kept small allotment (up to 200sqm)
- best newcomer (1st year) (sponsored by Ferndale Garden Centre)
- most environmentally friendly allotment
- best allotment society or community group plot
- best scarecrow
You may only enter one category, or best scarecrow plus one other.
All awards are citywide. The Bolton Cup is awarded to the best entry overall. The Pete Sides Cup for Innovation will be awarded to one of the entrants as chosen by the judges.
Judging the competition
Judging will take place from 13 July 2025 to 17 July 2025.
Plots will be inspected as per Sheffield City Council's allotment policies and the advice in the Allotment Handbook. There will be particular emphasis on range and quality of crops, plot maintenance and overall aesthetic appeal. For more information on the judging criteria please see the scoring sheets that will be used for judging in Supporting information.
If your individual plot is not locked, you do not need to be present for judging, but many choose to be. If your plot is locked, we'll need you to meet us there, or make other arrangements for us to gain access (such as arrange for another tenant to let us in).
The judges this year are Jillian Creasy (Community Activist) and Robert Smith (RHS Advisor).
Prizes
The prizes include certificates, gift vouchers and trophies.
How to enter the competition
Complete the Allotment Competition entry form and send to pwc.allotments@sheffield.gov.uk or Allotments Office, The Centre in the Park, Guildford Avenue, Sheffield, S2 2PL.
The closing date for entries is 9 July 2025.