Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, returned to Watery Lane Allotments, in Codsall, as a judge of the Tallest Sunflower Competition, on Wednesday 27th August.
Gavin spent the evening touring the allotments, measuring the sunflowers and visiting the wildlife garden.
The winning sunflower measured 3.28m and was grown by Mr and Mrs Ralph on plot 13a. Second and third place both went to Mr C Walsh from plot 24, whose sunflowers grew to 3.03m and 2.60m.
Following the judging, Gavin presented the grower of the tallest sunflower with a trophy to celebrate their achievement.
Over the past two years, the allotment has been part of a Community Service scheme, run by Wolverhampton Community Payback, allowing Young Offenders to help out around the site. Around £3000 of investment and 140 tonnes of gravel have been used in the project, which includes improvements such as the redefining of the pathways between plots and the resurfacing of the car park.
Gavin said: “I had a wonderful time judging the Tallest Sunflower Competition and was so impressed by the height of the winning sunflower and the new improvements to the allotments.
“I have been growing sunflowers in my garden, with my children, over the past year, but they haven’t managed to reach even half the height of the ones that I saw tonight. I greatly enjoy visiting Watery Lane Allotments and I was honoured to have been asked to return as a judge for the competition. I look forward to taking home some tips to use on my own sunflowers to see if I’ll be able to challenge the winner next year.”