Restaurant VMF has once again been recognised for its impressive sustainability by scooping a Green Apple Environment award.

It is part of a national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities.

VMF competed against more than 500 other nominations and staff will be presented with the Green Apple Award at a glittering presentation ceremony in the House of Commons on November 14.

As a result of this success they have been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their experience.

They will also be considered to represent their country in the European Business Awards for the Environment.

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country's major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries.

The awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising and promoting environmental best practice.

Judges for the Green Apple Awards are drawn from the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

Restaurant VMF utilises several sustainability projects in their operations, such as the successful allotment project.

The allotment, which lies just 1.5 miles from Villa Park, is tended to by 80 young people from the St. Georges Community Hub in Nechells which has been active in the youth communities of Aston and Newton for the past 12 years.

In the first season of the allotment, 750kg of potatoes were harvested and served in the VMF restaurant.

In the coming season this will expand to a full range of vegetables, potatoes, salad items and herbs from the 92 raised gardens and greenhouses at the site.

The site also features four of the twelve hives used to produce honey at VMF. Restaurant VMF - and other eateries on site - also use local suppliers wherever possible, with 80% of the produce used coming from the counties surrounding the West Midlands.

This includes farms in Bloxwich, Wythall, Tamworth and Earlswood as well as many other local businesses and producers.

This is also the latest award Villa's excellent restaurant has won.

They scooped six top gongs at the 'Stadium Experience' event earlier this year.

They won the gold standard for chef team of the year, green sustainability and matchday hospitality in the top-flight.

They even scooped the overall matchday hospitality award - covering all the league stadiums in this country and north of the border as well as national venues too - beating off stiff competition from Wembley, Hamden Park and Croke Park.

They came home with the silver standard in the media choice category and bronze for conference and banqueting.

Alison Plant, head of hospitality and events, said: "It's another proud moment for VMF. After winning a host of awards over the past few years, it's fair to say we will never tire of winning more as they come along.

"We're intensely proud of our sustainability projects here at Villa and aim to keep setting the standards in the coming weeks, months and years ahead."

Restaurant VMF is open from 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 12 noon to 3pm on Sundays.

To book call 0121 326 1570.