Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is inviting Dorset residents who garden with wildlife in mind to enter the 2017 Wildlife Friendly Gardening Competition, sponsored by the Gardens Group.
Now in its eighth year, the popular competition is free to enter and is suitable for private gardeners, schools, housing associations, formal and informal community groups. A new category has also been added to allow those in rented properties to take part.
Applications can be submitted online, where entrants can submit photos to show how much effort has gone into creating wildlife friendly habitats in their garden. Features include bug hotels, bird boxes, ponds, or simply a space left ‘wild’ for wildlife to make their homes in.
DWT’s Community Conservation Officer, Briony Baxter said, “One of the highlights of the year is visiting the gardens that have entered the competition as it’s very heartening to see so many people including wildlife friendly features of all shapes and sizes. More than ever, our wildlife is depending on gardens for food and shelter, so what you do in your garden really matters. This fun competition is for anyone who has an interest in gardening or wildlife and you definitely don’t have to be an expert gardener with a tidy garden to enter. If you’ve recently become interested in encouraging wildlife and you would like to know more, you can pick the brains of the experts who come to see your garden! Everyone who enters will also receive a free DWT wildlife friendly garden plaque to display proudly.”
The Gardens Group, who have sponsored the competition for the last eight years is celebrating their 30th Anniversary this year and is still delighted to be involved. Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, said, “Each year the bar is raised, as previous entrants use the judges’ feedback to make improvements that mean their gardens are even more wildlife friendly. We also see many new entrants each year, as more people continue to become inspired by how much they can do to help protect our wildlife. The competition is all about encouraging everyone to do their best to nurture wildlife in their gardens, no matter how large or small, and I take great pleasure in seeing how much impact our wildlife friendly gardeners are having.”
All the entrants will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Gardens Groups’ Castle Gardens in Sherborne in July. Prizes include wildlife garden products, gardening books, vouchers and a winners’ plaque. Refreshments will be provided and a guest speaker will give a talk on an aspect of wildlife gardening.
The closing date for applications is the 26th May 2017. Visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wfgc to enter.
