 The winners of Dorset’s first Wildlife Friendly Gardening Competition have been announced at an award ceremony in Sherborne. Dorset Wildlife Trust teamed up with The Gardens Group to run the competition to find the most wildlife friendly gardens in the county.
What makes a Wildlife Garden really stand out?
Sarah Williams, Dorset Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer and one of the expert judges, said: “We were very impressed with the number and standard of entries, showing how people in Dorset have embraced wildlife gardening wholeheartedly. We looked for a variety of food sources, such as nectar-rich flowers, seed and fruit plants, together with sources of water, shelter and suitable breeding sites. It was wonderful to see how all the winners succeeded in providing these, but in many different ways and in gardens of all shapes and sizes. Congratulations to all of them!”
 Who had the best Wildlife Gardens?
Gardens were judged in a range of categories, including a community and ‘large extended’ category for those with additional land such as a wood or meadow. The winning wildlife gardeners, chosen from over 50 entries, are:
Mrs J Maccarty from Christchurch (best community garden)
Annie Christopher from Bournemouth (best medium-sized garden)
Michael & Valerie Evans from Wimborne (best large garden)
Anita Rich & Dennis Lynch from Blandford (best large ‘extended’ garden)
 What prizes were won?
The awards were presented at Castle Gardens, Sherborne, by the internationally recognised wildlife-friendly garden expert, Clive Farrell of Ryewater Nursery, creator of the world’s biggest butterfly park and research centre, Butterfly World. The event was sponsored by The Gardens Group, with winners receiving award plaques and wildlife friendly gardening prizes including nest boxes, wild flower seeds, bird feeders and gardening vouchers for The Gardens Group’s garden centres at Poundbury, Yeovil and Sherborne.
For more information about wildlife gardening, see www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-gardening.html or ring Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.
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Notes to Editor
For more information please contact Joy Wallis at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.
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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Dorset Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961 to protect the wildlife and natural habitats of the county and now has over 25,000 members and manages over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve.
The largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues. It leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.
About The Gardens Group www.thegardeneronline.co.uk
The three Garden Centres that make up The Gardens Group are situated at; Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil and Poundbury Gardens in Dorchester.
Castle Gardens is situated in the grounds of the kitchen gardens of Sherborne Castle. Mike and Louise Burks set up a garden centre on the site in 1987. When they arrived it was badly overgrown and derelict. The business soon developed on the basis of high quality plants and horticultural expertise backed up by excellent customer service.
In 1992 Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil opened within the Fruit Farm alongside the Farm Shop. The site has developed over the years with the inclusion of the Apple Tree Restaurant and Farm Shop with a strong focus on local produce and homemade food.
A third garden centre opened in March 2006. Set in redundant Victorian farm buildings the site is in the centre of Poundbury, Dorchester - the village being created by HRH The Prince of Wales. The buildings have been carefully restored with minor adaptations to create a unique garden centre. Working with the Duchy of Cornwall many eco friendly features are being utilised including the collection of rainwater for irrigation, the use of waste packaging to heat the site and the inclusion of bat roosting boxes.
Prince Charles has been a regular visitor and has taken a keen interest in the project. A recent scheduled two-minute visit stretched to 20 minutes as the features of the new centre absorbed him.
From a team of 5 in 1987 the business now employs over 130 staff. The original ideals of high quality plants, expertise and customer service still hold true and are the backbone of the business.
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