A 14-year-old from Stroud has been named the new Youth Ambassador for the National Allotment Society after judges were impressed by his enthusiasm for growing fruit and vegetables.
Finn Young was selected from entries submitted by young growers aged between 10 and 17 across the UK. The competition was sponsored by King’s Seeds and asked entrants to describe their allotment experiences, including how growing food had helped them build skills, confidence and ambitions.
Finn’s entry stood out for its clear and engaging account of growing, as well as his understanding of the changing seasons. He has grown fruit and vegetables from seed, cared for seedlings on windowsills before planting them outside, and enjoyed his first harvests of the year since taking on an allotment.
‘It was a happy moment’
Finn said he discovered the competition in the latest edition of the National Allotment Society’s Allotment and Leisure Gardener magazine, only a few days before the closing date.
“Only a few days before the deadline, I was reading the latest Allotment and Leisure Gardener magazine, when I saw the competition,” he said.
He decided to enter because he wanted to encourage other people to grow their own fruit and vegetables, while also building his confidence. Finn and his mother filmed a short video for the competition, and the family learned six weeks later that he had won.
“As I am keen on growing fruit and vegetables on our allotment, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to potentially inspire others to grow, and boost my confidence in the process,” he said.
“Mum and I filmed a short video, and then six weeks later we found out that I had won! It was a happy moment,” he said.
Finn described the ambassador role as an opportunity to pass on what he knows and celebrate the achievements that can come from allotment gardening.
“Youth Allotment Ambassador is a wonderful way of sharing knowledge with others and highlights a sense of achievement in an activity that I love,” he said.
A year of sharing his growing journey
Finn will represent the National Allotment Society for the next year. His growing journey is expected to feature in the Society’s magazine, on its website and across its social media channels.
Alongside the title, he receives £200 in garden gift vouchers and gardening equipment and other gardening items.
The competition also recognised three other young gardeners. Ten-year-old Bodie Cattermole came second, while fellow 10-year-olds Jaykob Pollitt and Jessie Johnson shared third place. Each received £100 in gardening vouchers for their enthusiasm, confidence and commitment to allotment gardening.
Judges praise young growers
The judges said the entries showed how allotments can help young people develop patience, teamwork, resilience and creativity, as well as a lasting appreciation of growing.
Sonia Gallagher, the National Allotment Society’s National Secretary and General Manager, said the response to the competition had been “incredible” and that choosing the winners had been particularly difficult.
“The passion, enthusiasm and gardening knowledge on display made judging extremely difficult, and we were genuinely inspired by the amazing stories and experiences shared,” she said.
She congratulated Finn, describing him as approachable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and said the Society was looking forward to seeing him encourage more young people to take up growing.
“Congratulations to Finn Young, who came across as approachable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic,” she said.
“We’re excited to welcome Finn as our new Youth Ambassador and look forward to seeing him share his passion and inspire other young people to get growing,” she said.
Finn’s success follows the previous ambassador’s continued progress in the subject. Last year’s Youth Ambassador, 18-year-old Tom Wells, is now studying agriculture and land management while gaining practical experience working on a farm.
