A Salvation Army-run community allotment project in Watford has been shortlisted for an award.

The community allotment, which is led by Captain Mark Scoulding, is in the running to win in the Congregation and Community category at the 2024 Green Church Awards taking place this week.

The plot, which is worked on by Mr Scoulding and others on Tuesday mornings from February to October, features raised beds and growing troughs, a log circle, a mini orchard, a summer house, and a wildflower meadow with a wildlife pond.

The allotments are next to Cherry Tree Primary School and the space is visited weekly by up to 120 pupils, parents, and staff.

Mr Scoulding said he hopes the allotment will inspire a lifelong love of nature in the children who visit it.

He said: "All the pupils live in an urban environment with limited access to outdoor space.

"We teach the children to garden fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

"Week to week, we might be sowing tiny lettuce seeds into soil plugs or sledgehammering fence posts into the ground with all our strength.

"All the children benefit, but those who struggle with classroom learning become different people."

As well as working with the pupils from Cherry Tree Primary School, the community allotment is also used for church celebrations, corporate volunteering, and fundraising events.

Mr Scoulding said: "We invite the neighbourhood to harvest and eat the foods we have grown.

"Last year we cooked pumpkin soup and apple pies – some of our neighbours had never seen pumpkins growing and tasted them for the very first time.

"We also held our 140th birthday party on the allotment. More than 200 people joined the celebrations."

Cheska Tyler, headteacher at Cherry Tree Primary School, said: "The community allotment has been absolutely transformational for our children.

"They look forward to it each week and use their learnt skills around the school grounds whilst waiting for their next session.

"It is now an intrinsic part of our Cherry Tree curriculum."