We are pleased to announce that the judges for Blooming Lambeth Awards 2026 are confirmed. Each category will be judged by a team of 3 judges including at least 1 IEL director and 1 guest judge. This is the first year that we have worked with guest judges and we’re delighted that they are giving up their time to recognise Lambeth food growers, and will each bring their own unique perspective and experience to the judging process.
The judges for the categories are as follows:
Food Growing Excellence: Cllr Lisa Schulkind, London Borough of Lambeth Green Party Councillor; Poppy George, Tree Planting Programme Officer, Lambeth Council; and Janie Bickersteth, IEL director.
Climate-Friendly Gardening: Dr Iain Boulton, Biodiversity and Environmental Compliance Manager, Lambeth Council; Poppy George, Tree Planting Programme Officer; and Janie Bickersteth, IEL director.
Community Engagement: Catherine Walsh, Activities and Volunteering Manager at Brockwell Hall, Lambeth Council; Victoria Sherwin, IEL director; and Helene Ok, IEL director.
Gardens in Bloom: Courtney Bogle, Park Manager at Myatt’s Fields Park Project; Marjorie Landels, IEL director; and Dr Padma Ghosh, IEL director.
The judging team for Food Growing by Children and Young People is still to be confirmed. We will make an announcement when this is confirmed.
“We’re really looking forward to discovering the unexpected on some of Lambeth’s (often hidden) green spaces” says Janie Bickersteth, IEL director and judge for Climate-Friendly Gardening and Food Growing Excellence categories.
The judges will meet in August and we will be in touch with all entrants after this date.