Be Wild About Your Garden
8
May
Kent Wildlife Trust celebrated the launch of its 2014 Wild about Gardens awards scheme last week at its headquarters and visitor centre at Tyland Barn, Maidstone.
The Wild about Gardens awards scheme is free to enter. Anyone who gardens in Kent is welcome to take part, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30th June.
Competition coordinator, Maureen Rainey, says: “This is my 7th year organising Wild about Gardens and I've met some amazing people with wonderful wildlife havens - not all country acres! Some are tiny urban plots, but they are all equally valuable in providing much needed stepping stones to enable wildlife to move around our increasingly built up county.”
Kent Wildlife Trust’s volunteer gardening advisors aim to visit as many entrants as possible during the season and recommend gardens for bronze, silver or gold certificates as well as giving out useful advice.
In addition, ‘Gold’ winners receive one of the Trust’s coveted Wild about Gardens Blue Plaques and may be put forward for a special award for gardens of particular merit.
The 11 categories are: Cool School for Nature, Best Community Wildlife Project, Best Water Wise Wildlife Garden (all sponsored by Southern Water); Best Wildlife Churchyard (sponsored by Kent God’s Acre); Best ‘Dragon’ Garden (sponsored by Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group); Best ‘Buzz’ Garden (sponsored by Bumble Bee Conservation Trust); Best Garden for Bats (sponsored by Kent Bat Group); Best Urban Garden - Jewel in the Town; Top of the Plots – Best Wildlife Friendly Allotment; Best Small Wildlife Garden; and Best Wildlife Garden in Kent.
Winners will be notified by the end of September and invited to attend an awards presentation in November.
The entry form can be found at www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk or ask for a leaflet by calling 01622 662012.
The Wild about Gardens awards scheme is free to enter. Anyone who gardens in Kent is welcome to take part, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30th June.
Competition coordinator, Maureen Rainey, says: “This is my 7th year organising Wild about Gardens and I've met some amazing people with wonderful wildlife havens - not all country acres! Some are tiny urban plots, but they are all equally valuable in providing much needed stepping stones to enable wildlife to move around our increasingly built up county.”
Kent Wildlife Trust’s volunteer gardening advisors aim to visit as many entrants as possible during the season and recommend gardens for bronze, silver or gold certificates as well as giving out useful advice.
In addition, ‘Gold’ winners receive one of the Trust’s coveted Wild about Gardens Blue Plaques and may be put forward for a special award for gardens of particular merit.
The 11 categories are: Cool School for Nature, Best Community Wildlife Project, Best Water Wise Wildlife Garden (all sponsored by Southern Water); Best Wildlife Churchyard (sponsored by Kent God’s Acre); Best ‘Dragon’ Garden (sponsored by Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group); Best ‘Buzz’ Garden (sponsored by Bumble Bee Conservation Trust); Best Garden for Bats (sponsored by Kent Bat Group); Best Urban Garden - Jewel in the Town; Top of the Plots – Best Wildlife Friendly Allotment; Best Small Wildlife Garden; and Best Wildlife Garden in Kent.
Winners will be notified by the end of September and invited to attend an awards presentation in November.
The entry form can be found at www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk or ask for a leaflet by calling 01622 662012.