Celebrate The Wonders Of Ugly Veg
 A year-long competition is being launched by the National Trust during British Food Fortnight to find the ugliest vegetable in England. As retailers place an increasing emphasis on perfect vegetables the Trust wants everyone to celebrate 'Ugly Veg' from two legged carrots to corkscrew runner beans, which often taste great but are rejected because of their looks.
Winners will be chosen from those entries most able to illustrate how they have grown their ugly veg, where it was grown and how the growing experience has changed their behaviour and future choices when buying fruit and veg. There are seven categories in the competition. An Overall winner from each of these will be selected and the overall winner will get the chance to have a National Trust Gardener for a day to advise and help them with their garden/growing queries.
Individual winners in each category will win a Veg box for a year and runners up in each category win a composter. School winners will win an organic picnic for their school. The closing date for receipt of all entries will be Friday 1st September 2006. The result for the competition will be announced during British Food Fortnight 2006.
Elizabeth Woodward, the National Trust's Food Choices Project Officer running the initiative, said: "The 'Ugly Veg Competition' aims to discover not only the ugliest veg but also the best growing experience and is open to individuals and schools throughout England. To show anyone of any age can do it, we have included categories for the under 5's and over 65's!"
"Growing your own connects you with the elements and nature. It is also fantastic exercise and cheaper than joining a gym! An hour in the garden burns up to 345 calories, half again as much as cycling. If you don't have a school garden or one at home, have a go at growing your ugly veg in a container - it could even be an old shoe!"
The National Trust is launching this year-long as part of the Food Choices initiative run in conjunction with the Small Steps BIG CHANGE Project, a 3-year project funded by Defra's Environmental Action Fund. Part of this project will focus on the 'Food choices' that staff, volunteers, members and visitors make and how by thinking more carefully about the food we consume, we can all make a difference.
More information about the competition can be found on the National Trust website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plottoplate
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