The Wildlife Friendly Garden Competition 2010

13th May: Please note that we are having problems with our email system.  If you have emailed a competition entry form and have not heard back from us, please phone Joy Wallis at DWT on 01305 264620 to check if we have received it.

We've launched a free competition to find the most wildlife friendly gardens in Dorset.  Following the success of our Wildlife Friendly Garden Plaque scheme (with over 150 awarded so far), we've joined forces with The Gardens Group to launch a county-wide competition to help recognise the important contribution gardeners are making to the conservation of the county’s wildlife.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to all Dorset gardens, from a small patio to a large garden which is more of an integral part of the countryside.  Judging will be in different size categories and entries can be from individuals, community or school gardens, a group of neighbours or even a whole street. You DON'T need one of our Wildlife Friendly Garden Plaques in order to enter!

Is my garden "wildlife friendly"?

“Gardens can be full of perfect specimen roses, they can be full of leeks and lettuces but they can still be very comfortable homes for wildlife!" Our sponsor, Mike Burks, MD of The Gardens Group says "One does not preclude the other and so we will hopefully find gardens where plants and wildlife are in perfect harmony!”

Here are a few wildlife friendly garden features that your garden might include:

	Wildlife Pond		Long grass area		No-go area
	Bog or permanently wet area		Nectar rich flower border and bushes		Log pile and/or substantial decaying tree stump
	Bird bath		Mixed Native Hedge		Climbing plants/trellises suitable for nesting & feeding
	Bird Box		Mature native tree		Slug pellet free
	Wild flower meadow		Compost heap

How to enter

Entry to the competition is FREE. Click on the following link to download an
Entry Form and download some notes to help you with your entry or go to www.thegardeneronline.co.uk .

You can also collect an entry form from Castle Gardens - Sherborne, Poundbury Gardens - Dorchester and our wildlife centres at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Beacon Hill, Corfe Mullen. 

The closing date for entries is 10th May 2010, and judging will take place at the end of May and during June.

What are the prizes?

Prizes, which include a wildlife friendly collection of plants, gardening vouchers and books, will be presented by renowned eco-gardener Clive Farrell at a wildlife friendly gardening event at Castle Gardens, Sherborne on 15th July.

For further information, please contact Joy Wallis at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620 or email .
 

 
Mike & Louise Burks, Directors
of the Gardens Group & sponsors
of our gardening competition

Broad Bodied Chaser on Lupin
 Photo by Imogen Davenport

Baby Blue Tit 
Photo by Judith Crompton

 Entry Form

 Notes to help with your entry
 

Nectar rich border
Photo by Nicky Hoar