Enter our Big Wildlife Garden competition!
Entry is free, and prizes will include a year’s membership of both the Royal Horticultural Society, and your local Wildlife Trust, plus attendance at a wildlife gardening masterclass at the Hampton Court Flower Show. Sarah Raven, gardener, writer and television presenter, will be on the BWG competition judging panel.
What you do for the nature on your doorstep can make a big difference for wildlife.
And it’s not just wildlife that benefits. You’ll feel good too: getting outdoors can be both relaxing and invigorating.
The more people who do their bit for the wildlife in their patch, the bigger the UK’s garden nature reserve. We’d like to find some of the best examples of wildlife gardens in the UK - ones that will inspire others to take action to turn their gardens into wildlife havens. Remember that size doesn’t matter – small-scale actions can still reap big rewards for wildlife.
The competition is open to everybody in the UK, including individuals, communities and businesses.
Could your garden be what we’re looking for?
There are six categories, catering for every type of garden.
Small Residential
Do you have a relatively small garden (whether urban or rural)? (Assume your garden is small if it is 50 sq m in size, the size of approximately four car parking spaces) Or perhaps you grow your garden largely in containers on a balcony or patio? Then this category is for you.
Small ResidentialLarge Residential
If you have a larger urban or country garden and have enough space to grow a range of plants or have more than one habitat type, then this category is for you. (Assume your garden is large if it is more than 50 sq m in size, larger than approximately four car parking spaces.)
Large ResidentialNew Residential
If you live in a new house that was completed in the past two to three years, within a larger development of houses, then this category is for you. Chances are your garden may have started off as, or still be, a blank canvas. There may be a bit of lawn or even just soil. It’s what you do to improve it that will make a difference to wildlife.
New ResidentialEducational Residential
Any school, college or nursery garden managed with wildlife in mind can enter.
Educational ResidentialCommunity Residential
Are you involved with a garden collectively managed by a group of people in your community? For example, a street or neighbourhood garden, a garden for a place of worship or for a prison? If so then this category is for you.
Community ResidentialBusiness Residential
Many businesses own land. Do you have a wildlife garden – or better still, could you create a new one? If so, this category will be for you.
Business Residential- The Competition
- Entering Your Garden
- Tips
- Terms & Conditions
- About the Awards
Why enter?
Wildlife gardening is about a lot of things: doing your bit for wildlife on your very own doorstep, joining together with other gardens to create one big nature reserve, getting out in the fresh air, working together with others in your community, and just sitting in your garden watching the wildlife that visits.
We know that all gardens registered on Big Wildlife Garden are making a wonderful contribution to wildlife in their neighbourhood, and making a difference for nature.
We want to find the best examples of wildlife gardens, as an inspiration to others, and to encourage even more people to try gardening with wildlife in mind.