Veterans' produce could now be sold at Fortnum and Mason to raise funds
Marmalade made by armed forces veterans at an Ayr gardening therapy scheme has been declared the best in the world at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards.
The Gardening Leave Seville orange marmalade is made by three veterans – Colin, Shug and Mick – at the charity’s Auchincruive project under the guidance of horticultural therapist Victoria Brown, whose family marmalade recipe was used.
It beat thousands of other entrants from around the world in the homemade competition of the awards, held in Cumbria, jointly scooping the best in show title.
And, as a result, the tasty treat could soon be sold to raise funds for the charity at London’s famous Fortnum and Mason store in Piccadily, a sponsor of the awards.
Heather Budge-Reid, chief executive of Gardening Leave, said: “We are incredibly touched by the fact that something we love doing has won any kind of award, never mind such a prestigious one.
The recipe
The winning marmalade recipe uses 1kg of Sevilles, 2 lemons and 1 sweet orange.
“This means such a lot. It will help to restore the confidence and pride of the veterans, many of whom face the daily challenges of post-traumatic stress. ”
Awards organiser Jane Hasell-McCosh added: “I am delighted that Gardening Leave is one of our joint winners this year, particularly as it is a charity in which I believe wholeheartedly.
“I hope that this win will help to raise the profile of such a worthwhile organisation.”
Gardening Leave helps armed forces veterans, aged 21-65, with mental health issues by using horticultural therapy.
Veterans are encouraged to learn to cook, mostly using produce grown in the charity’s gardens around the UK.
Produce and preserves are also sold on to raise funds or donated to local homeless organisations.
