Press Release from PNPR (PR agency to Loseley Park)
11 year- old girl from Hurtmore, Surrey wins Loseley Giant Pumpkin Competition with huge 42lber
Guildford, 21st October 2011. Erin Saunders has won the Loseley Giant Pumpkin competition with a massive pumpkin weighing in at 42lbs.
Erin planted the monster from seed in April after receiving a packet of seeds with the head gardener’s tips at the Loseley Spring Garden show.
299 other children had also received the seeds and tips, but Erin’s green fingers produced a specimen, which just grew and grew. “I’m really excited about winning and also quite surprised,” she said at the prize-giving at Loseley Park this week.
“I planted the seeds in our vegetable garden in April when it was sunny and watered them. Then I left the pumpkins to grow – there were two of them. So, I’m surprised how big the winner has grown while the rest of the carrots and beans in the patch got eaten by rabbits, deer and flies.
“But this has inspired me to grow my own garden with lots of pretty flowers like roses, sunflowers and pansies. But for now, I’m going to carve this pumpkin and enter the school competition for Halloween. It’s been great fun and very inspiring doing the Loseley competition, which was the first gardening contest I’ve gone in for.”
Erin’s mother, Gill Saunders adds: “I’m amazed our pumpkin won: Erin and I planted it together and left it to its own devices. Our vegetable plot is 12 foot by 12 foot and this took it over! We didn’t water it later as it was so wet. We’ve just got a lucky pumpkin!”
Loseley Park owner, Michael More-Molyneux, presented Erin with the prize of junior gardening tools (fork, spade, hoe, hand fork, trowel and gloves). In addition, there was a season ticket for her parents to The Walled Garden at Loseley, which opens again next Spring.
“Well done, Erin! It’s a wonderful pumpkin and worthy winner,” he said. “I’m so glad children have taken up the challenge and started gardening to discover all the joy that growing things brings. That’s the whole point of the Loseley Children’s Gardening Competitions (last year it was for The Tallest Sunflower).”
Head gardener, Burney, added: “Congratulations to Erin – this is a magnificent pumpkin! I’m delighted she enjoyed growing it and found the competition inspiring.”
