City Harvest Festival returns

The unique City Harvest Festival - London's equivalent of a rural county show - is expected to be the biggest ever in 2010, with more than 2,000 people attending, including many talented farmers and gardeners of all ages from across the capital.

Animals and produce from a wide range of London’s 16 city farms and over 100 community gardens can be seen at the event, including rare Golden Guernsey goats from Newham, honey from Dagenham, pumpkins from Kentish Town, Indian runner ducks from Vauxhall, Bengali kerala from Shoreditch, and blackcurrants from White City.

The festival, now in its 12th year, takes place in the attractive grounds of Capel Manor in Enfield on Saturday 18th September.

Gates open at 10am and there will be plenty of attractions for the whole family. Ducks, geese, rabbits, ponies and many other animals will be competing in a variety of Best in Show competitions. There will also be a dazzling array of fruit and vegetables on show, including many exotic varieties, all sourced from urban farms and gardens in London.

Event organiser Catherine Miller said: “You will be amazed at the variety of produce grown at London's community projects and at all the different animals kept. This popular family show truly is where the city meets the country.”

The day includes a fiercely competitive tug of war, a contest for the biggest pumpkin, the longest runner bean, most unusual looking fruit or vegetable and even a competition for the animal that looks most like its handler - last year won by a rabbit called Fay.

Talented blacksmiths, potters and woodworkers will all demonstrate their crafts and the community garden displays always boast beautiful flowers that reflect the truly cosmopolitan nature of London.