Wild About Gardens Awards

This year we are introducing the Wild About Gardens Award Scheme into our area

By entering your garden for a free Wild About Gardens Award in 2023 you will be making space for wildlife and helping us understand how local people are supporting wildlife, biodiversity and sustainability.

Award Levels:

BRONZE - 4 or more wildlife garden features, at least one from each category

SILVER - 8 or more wildlife garden features, at least two from each category

GOLD - 12 or more wildlife garden features, at least three from each category

and must include ALL those marked *

The award assessment checklist of 24 simple wildlife-friendly garden features:

FOOD FEATURES IN YOUR GARDEN

  • Bird-feeding station

  • *Nectar-rich flowers

  • Fruit trees or berry-bearing shrubs

  • Some perennials left uncut until spring

  • Vegetable patch/container

  • Herb garden or growing herbs

SHELTER FEATURES IN YOUR GARDEN

  • *Either: dead woodpile OR log pile OR stone pile OR area 1 m2 minimum left undisturbed

  • Climbing plants on wall/trellis (eg. Ivy, Honeysuckle, Clematis)

  • Mixed native hedge (eg. Oak, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn)

  • Mature tree(s)

  • Some lawn left to grow long

  • Wild flower patch

  • Bird, bat or hedgehog box

  • Insect / bee hotel

WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURES IN YOUR GARDEN

  • Wildlife pond of any size including a bucket or bowl – best without fish

  • Bog/permanently wet area

  • Drought-resistant plants

  • *Bird bath

MANAGEMENT OF YOUR GARDEN

  • *No use of pesticides & toxic slug pellets

  • *Avoid chemical weed killers

  • Compost bin, heap or wormery

  • Rain butt to save water

  • *Use of peat-free compost

  • Hedgehog access/transit through garden boundaries