Gardeners who work tirelessly to protect green spaces and encourage people to use allotments “do not get enough thanks”.

Members of Harrow in Leaf, a charity which looks after all things green in the borough, have all been nominated for a Harrow’s Heroes award.

But the news will come as a shock to the committee – who are yet to be told they are in for a chance of winning the competition, which is run by Harrow council and supported by the Harrow Times.

Chairman Sue Green, who lives in North Harrow, nominated her hard-working committee for the prize.

She said: “They have done so much good over the years, they don’t get enough thanks for all the brilliant work they do.

“They don’t ask for anything. If you need help you just need to say so and they will pop in, expecting no reward or remuneration.

“They don’t know they are up for it yet but I expect they will read it in the paper now. I just want to thank them.”

Harrow in Leaf was founded in 1998 to try and block a football training stadium from being built on the West Harrow allotment site.

But after successfully fighting the planning application, they decided to form an allotments group and Harrow in Leaf was born.

Today, nearly 20 years on, they have a representative for each allotment site in Harrow.

They also took over the running of the popular and long-standing Harrow Show, which has been running since World War Two, after it dissolved in 2003.

Now known as Harrow in Leaf, the show is held every bank holiday at the Heritage Museum and features rides and gardening-themed stalls.

This year, Rekha Mistry, who took part in BBC’s The Big Allotment Challenge last year, will be presenting prizes at the show.

Mrs Green added: “We couldn’t let the Harrow Shop stop because it has been such a tradition in Harrow. As a Horticultural charity, we decided to encourage gardening in the borough through the show.

“Everyone works so hard on it – this year it will include the beekeepers tent, crafts and photography.

“We have 17 members on the committee who work so hard to make sure it is successful.”

This year’s show will be held on Monday, August 31 from 12 to 5pm and costs £1.50 to get in.

For more information visit www.harrowinleaf.org.uk .