Berkhamsted Chilli Growing Society hosts its Best Bush Competition

The weather may be getting cooler, but Berkhamsted's hottest gardening society has spiced things up with its annual Best Bush Competition. 

The Berkhamsted Chilli Growing Society had issued each member with a sealed packet of Apache seeds from Nicky's Nursery earlier in the year, and instructed them to present their best plant on competition day. 

When the final arrived, the entrants and their chilli bushes congregated at last year's winner's house. The judging panel was made up of Stephen and Juliette Wall, owners of competition sponsor Pho Cafe, and local gardener Helen Reeley, who runs the Berkhamsted and Tring Supper Club.  

And the result? After much deliberation (and Vietnamese beer), the best bush belonged to Allen Green, who got to take home the society's coveted garden gnome trophy, Gordon. 

The runner-up was David O'Hara, and third place went to society chairman Burt Bailey.