Do you have the best wildlife garden in Dorset?

As gardens become increasingly important strongholds for much of our native wildlife, a competition has been launched to find the most wildlife friendly gardens in the county.

Following the success of its innovative Wildlife Friendly Garden Plaque scheme, Dorset Wildlife Trust has joined forces with The Gardens Group to launch a competition to help recognise the important contribution gardeners are making to the conservation of the county’s wildlife.

Joy Wallis, people and wildlife co-ordinator at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The countryside and other urban open spaces are often unwelcoming, sterile and do not have the range of micro-habitats many gardeners supply.

“We want to encourage gardeners across the county who are providing a haven for wildlife.

“The judges will be looking for gardens, however small, that welcome wildlife and so form a vital stepping stone between other suitable habitats.”

The Wildlife Friendly Garden Competition is open to all Dorset gardens, from a small patio to a large garden which is more of an integral part of the countryside. Judging will be in different size categories and entries can be from individuals, community or school gardens, a group of neighbours or even a whole street. Gardens will need to provide a variety of sources of food such as nectar-rich flowers, seed and fruit planting with various sources of water, shelter and places to breed. Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Dorset Wildlife Trust on this project to find the best wildlife friendly gardens in Dorset. “Gardens can be full of perfect specimen roses, they can be full of leeks and lettuces but they can still be very com fortable homes for wildlife! “One does not preclude the other and so we will hopefully find gardens where plants and wildlife are in perfect harmony!”

How to enter: Entry to the competition is free. Forms are available to download from the following websites www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wgc www.thegardeneronline.co.uk You can also get them at Castle Gardens, Sherborne; Poundbury Gardens, Dorchester and Dorset Wildlife Trust centres at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows and the Urban Wildlife Centre. Closing date is May 10. For more information, please contact Joy Wallis at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.

Prizes, which include a wildlife friendly collection of plants, gardening vouchers and books, will be presented by renowned eco-gardener Clive Farrell at a wildlife friendly gardening event at Castle Gardens, Sherborne on July 15.