PRESS RELEASE

27 April 2009

CALLING ALL GREEN FINGERS: CWT LAUNCHES WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN PLANTER COMPETITION

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is launching a competition to find the most Wildlife Friendly miniature garden. We are looking for a Wildlife Friendly Garden Planter to take to the RHS Show at Tatton Park in July.

The competition highlights the fact that you do not need a large garden in order to make it friendly for wildlife and is part of the Trust’s new Wildlife Friendly Garden Award scheme. The winning entries could be planters, window boxes or even a hanging basket.

“Just a few simple changes or additions to a garden can make a huge difference for wildlife,” said Sue Tatman, CWT’s Gardening for Wildlife officer. “A bird feeder, some nectar-rich flowers and a pile of twigs or leaves can all benefit a range of wildlife from birds such as blue tits and woodpeckers through to invertebrates such as ladybirds and centipedes.

“These are features that can be incorporated into something as simple and small as a regular garden planter, so even if you have a paved yard or just room for window boxes or hanging baskets, you can still play a part in encouraging wildlife to flourish.”

This approach is what the competition challenges green-fingered people to demonstrate: judges will be looking for a combination of attractive design plus wildlife-friendly features all contained within a 50x50cm planter (no restrictions on height of planter or design features within it).

Entries can be sent in as photographs or you are invited to display the ‘real thing’ at CWT’s free family fun day One Earth Festival at the Trust’s HQ, Bickley Hall Farm, Bickley nr Malpas on Sunday 5th July.

As well as two official judges, visitors to the Festival will be invited to vote for their favourite design or planter and the most popular will be shortlisted as one of the three finalists.

The final three planters will be taken to the RHS Show at Tatton Park 22-26 July to be displayed on the Cheshire Wildlife Trust stand.

The winners will also be presented with vouchers totalling £275, generously donated by The Grosvenor Garden Centre nr Chester.

For entry forms please send a stamped SAE to Planter Competition, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Bickley Hall Farm, Bickley nr Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8EF.

For tips on how to make your garden more wildlife friendly please send a regular stamped A5 SAE requesting a ‘Wildlife Friendly Garden Awards leaflet’ to Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Bickley Hall Farm, Bickley Nr Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8EF or email wildlifegardening@cheshirewt.cix.co.uk

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