As summer wanes, the Highgate Horticultural Show is usually a joyous occasion.

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Of course, this year the men and women who spend their time lovingly sowing and growing at Highgate Allotments were unable to hold the event – so photographer Polly Hancock went along to have a root through the vegetables and snap some of this year’s prize crop.

From crab-apples to courgettes, melons to dahlias, the green-fingered folk of N6 have made the most of lockdown and their produce looks as bright and exciting as ever.

Horticultural stars include Jim Greenhill, 86, who is life-chair of the Highgate Horticultural Society, and journalist Ruth Pavey, who Ham&High readers may recognise from her gardening column in this newspaper.

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Crouch End man Gary Sycamore is another stalwart – he collects his best produce, along with donations from his allotment neighbours, and sells at Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market in aid of the Highgate charity the Harrington Scheme.

The Highgate Allotments Association (HAA) is based in Yeatman Road. To ask about joining the allotment waiting list, visit highgate-allotments.org.

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut.With no Highgate horticultural shows this year, and on the day that Highgate Horticultural Society would have held their annual Autumn Show, we went to see what was happening at Highgate Allotments. Pictured Jim Greenhil (86) former site secretary and life chair of Highgate Allotments Association and member since 1981, standing at the site hut. (Image: Archant)