West Norfolk’s wildlife gardeners celebrated at second annual competition awards

The competition, which recognised residents who have transformed their gardens into havens for wildlife, attracted 36 entries this year, with 15 entries in the large garden category and 21 entries in the small garden category.

Guest speakers at the event included Garth Coupland, who spoke about the importance of wildlife in gardens and the interconnected web of life; Sarah Butler who explained the work of the Norfolk Naturalists Organisation and Maggie Swinfen, Assistant Officer for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and how to get involved.

Following judging and site visits, finalists were shortlisted across the two categories before winners were announced at the awards ceremony held at King’s Lynn Town Hall.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Cllr Steve Bearshaw, during a ceremony that also featured presentations on wildlife gardening and local nature recovery.

Michael de Whalley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:

"I'd like to congratulate all of this year's entrants and particularly our winners. The standard of entries was once again incredibly high and demonstrated the important role that residents can play in supporting nature recovery.

Whether through creating wildflower areas, providing habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, or simply managing gardens in a more nature-friendly way, every participant has helped make a positive difference. Together, these gardens form a network of valuable habitats across West Norfolk and show how small actions can have a significant impact on biodiversity."

Pallavi Devulapalli, Airfield Ward councillor and one of the competition organisers, said:

"When we launched the Garden Wildlife Competition, our aim was to encourage people to think about how their gardens could support nature whilst also sharing ideas and inspiration with others. It has been wonderful to see the competition grow in its second year and receive entries from people with gardens of all sizes.

Every entrant should be proud of what they have achieved. The creativity, commitment and passion on display has been inspiring and shows how much residents across the borough care about protecting and enhancing wildlife where they live."

The competition forms part of the council's wider work to support biodiversity and encourage action through its Pollinator Action Plan, helping residents create spaces where nature can thrive despite the challenges posed by a changing climate.

Residents interested in creating more wildlife-friendly gardens can find inspiration from this year's entries and learn more about the council's biodiversity initiatives including the Pollinator Action Plan, Norfolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Biodiversity Net Gain through the council's website.

More information about the Norfolk Naturalists Organisation can be seen here: https://norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/

Information about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy can be found here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/39010/What-a-Local-Nature-Recovery-Strategy-is

Winners

Best Large Garden

• Adrian Pope ("Martha's Meadow") in Southery
• Maria Boyes in West Dereham
• Jean Walsh in King’s Lynn

Best Small Garden

• Rosemary Rayner in Great Bircham
• Wobine de Sitter in King’s Lynn
• Marie & Chris Rawlins in King’s Lynn
• Ben Barrett in Downham Market