Press Cuttings

Awards...
In 2009 I was a finalist in the Garden Blog of the Year category at the Garden Media Guild's (GMG) annual awards. James Alexander-Sinclair won again, but I was pleased to hear my name read out at the awards lunch and for James to recommend this blog during his acceptance speech :)


In 2011 I was a finalist in the Horticultural Channel's inaugural awards. It's rather good because nominations and votes come from the public. I'm also proud to be a contributor to the eventual winner, The Guardian Gardening blog :)

In 2012, Veg Plotting was again a finalist in the GMG's Garden Blog of the Year. Runner-up to the mighty Guardian Gardening Blog is fine by me.

In 2013, Veg Plotting had its third finalist spot, making it the most successful blog not to have achieved the winner's prize.

Acclaim for Veg Plotting...

BBC Countryfile magazine said:
The best blogs are based around a central passion but allow the author to digress wildly, letting their personalities flood through. Veg Plotting is such a blog...


...VP takes in such varied subjects as making elderflower cordial and the use of plastic flowers in railway station hanging baskets. Eclectic and always entertaining.

Blog of the Month, August 2009

And here's what BBC Gardeners' World magazine had to say:
...entertaining and educational glimpses into a normal garden and allotment in Chippenham. Lots of hints and surprises.

January 2009

From Walton's Best Gardening or Shed Blog nomination:

Based in Wiltshire, this blog offers a quirky view of the world of gardening and allotments, as well as an irreverant take on the world around us!
November 2010
Grow Your Own magazine's Growing help feature said:
Follow the musings of this Wiltshire-based gardener as she blogs about life, allotments and producing crops on limestone-clay soil. If you're planning to visit other people's plots in 2011 her reviews and stunning photography will encourage you out of the potting shed and into the car.

Expect to be inspired by pictures of RHS Wisley, Dyrham Park and many other fantastic fruit-and-veg growing spots. The blogger opened her own garden to the public in 2008.


February 2011 (NB March's edition) and again in February 2012:


Bloggers come and bloggers go, but I'm happy to say that Wiltshire based allotment holder Michelle Chapman is a constant source of inspiration on the ever-evolving cyber gardening scene. Her site vegplotting.blogspot.com (which gives her other moniker, VP) is a great place to go for honest, thorough product reviews, musings on allotment life, seasonal recipes and thoughtful posts on everything from grafted tomatoes to potato blight. Catch up with VP on Twitter, too @malvernmeet.
Daily Mail:
Blogs I particularly enjoy are Veg Plotting, vegplotting.blogspot.com and James Alexander-Sinclair’s award winning one at blackpitts.co.uk.

Nigel Colborn February 2011
RHS Grow Your Own website:
One of several blogs in Our Featured Blogs for this month...
March 2011- March 2014 (website feature now discontinued)

James Wong (tweeting as @BotanyGeek): Essential reading for any grow your own geek - September 2012



Extract from Chelsea Fringe 2013 website - click to read on

Andrew WilsonI was invited to judge blogs in the Garden Media Guild Awards, enabling me to explore some splendid examples of this relatively new form of communication. Writers such as Michelle Chapman were celebrated as finalists, recognising her approach to productive gardening in particular with her 52-week salad challenge. Seed Developments expert blog, January 2013.

Abigail Willis: Chelsea Fringe 2013 - The Festival Sans Frontieres Continues June 2013

Add Garden Answers feature

Add Grow London & Express online mentions - May 2014

Pacific Horticulture Magazine (USA): Chelsea Fringe - Gardening's Quirky Side (features my 2013 Chelsea Fringe project) - Spring 2014

Veronica Peerless: Chelsea Fringe 2014 - Online Chelsea Fringe Projects - May 2014

Other honourable mentions (press, radio and peer):

Comments

Your essential reads

That blue flower: A spring spotter's guide

Jack Go To Bed At Noon

Red Nose Day - Gardening Jokes Anyone?

Salad Days: Mastering Lettuce

VPs VIPs: Derry Watkins of Special Plants

#mygardenrightnow: heading into summer with the Chelsea Fringe

The Resilient Garden

Testing Times: Tomatoes

Chelsea Fringe 2014: Shows of Hands - Episode I

Make Use of Mildew