HUGS Wildlife Garden Competition Winners!

We’re very pleased to announce our winners and share what the judges said about their wonderful, wildlife-friendly gardens.

Vicky and Berty Hunt, winners of our Wildlife Garden Competition!

A beautiful, informal family wildlife garden, all designed and sensitively managed for nature.  Absolutely buzzing with insect life as well as bird song.  Bounded on 2 sides at present by semi-wild areas.  Fantastic species-rich lawn that is sympathetically cut not too often.  Wonderful flower borders and beds where wildflowers are welcomed in to offer maximum nectar as well as habitat.  Just as in nature, there is no bare soil.  Wildlife-friendly water features with shallow edges and planting for shade and shelter. Ponds are home to frogs, newts as well as other aquatic life.  There's a green roof on part of the house for extra habitat and nectar supply.  Lots of trees, hedgerows and shrubs connected by hidden pathways around the garden.  Sunny green house and veg bed full of organic veg. Perfect!

John and Mary Napper our Runners Up!

An attractive and productive informal wildlife-friendly garden.  Beautiful nectar-rich planting at the front and sides of the house, full of insect life.  Wide and interesting range of native plants for wildlife in the beds and borders. Large wildlife pond and deep area of untouched garden behind it sympathetically left for wildlife.  New flower beds for pollinators and existing beds are a lovely mix of cultivated and native plants.  Thick hedgerows, sympathetically managed and a great range of climbers, together providing much shelter as well as food. Large, productive vegetable garden surrounded by soft areas of planting and wild flowers that create home for many invertebrates as well as active nest sites for birds.  All the pest control you could ever want in a veg patch!  Great range of habitats from short to long grass in sun and shade, comfrey and nettle patches, wood and stone piles and more!

Val and Malcolm Brownsword our Runners-Up!

Impressive garden with a mix of formal and informal areas. Garden home to a wide range of wildlife, particularly butterflies and other invertebrates (along with a wide range of birds). Long swathes of native hedging. Species-rich wildflower meadow grown from seed, providing a long season of flowers for pollinators (over 15 species from cowslips and primroses in spring through to wild carrot and wild chicory into late summer). Fantastic range of plants for pollinators in the borders too, offering food and shelter across a long season. Two ponds with native planting including around the margins. The ponds are home to newts and common hawker dragonfly nymphs. Mature trees and shrubs, many providing flowers and fruit. Impressive fruit and vegetable garden as well as composting and rain water harvesting.