Four-Year-Old Scoops Massive Marrow Prize

Published on: 6 Nov, 2012
Updated on: 6 Nov, 2012

Lucie Gibson (centre) winner of Loseley children’s gardening competition 2012 with parents and Michael More-Molyneux (left)

Loseley gardening competition for children saw its youngest winner yet at the weekend. Four- year-old Lucie Gibson, who lives in Frensham Forest, 10 miles north of Woking, grew, from seed, a marrow that weighed in at over 2 kilos. She had remained undaunted by the poor spring and summer that had presented a challenge to gardeners of all ages .

More than 30 children had entered in April at the Loseley Spring Garden Show where they collected marrow seeds and tips from Burney, the Head Gardener.

“Lucie enjoyed potting the three seeds and watching them grow and watering them with her own little can,” said her mother Caryl. “The slugs got two of the marrows, but, fortunately, not the third!”

Holding up her winning vegetable, Lucie added: “I’m so happy and it’s so heavy. The best thing about the Garden Show was splashing in the puddles and eating delicious cake!”

Instead of garden tools, she is too small to handle even a child-sized hoe, fork or spade, her prize is tokens for WH Smith. The prize also included something for her parents – two season tickets to the Walled Garden and grounds at Loseley for next year. The Massive Marrow fest follows the success of last year’s Giant Pumpkin and 2010’s Tallest Sunflower Competitions, respectively.

Michael More-Molyneux, owner of Loseley said: “Congratulations, Lucie! You certainly battled the elements to produce your winner and also saw off more than 30 competitors. I hope you enjoy your vouchers and go on to have a lifetime of pleasure from gardening.

“This was the third year we’ve run this competition, giving seeds and 10 Top Tips from our head gardener, Burney. We want children to enjoy the Walled Garden with their family and to be inspired by our vegetables, so they go and grow their own.”