Lots of residents have been busy transforming their balconies and front gardens into vibrant spaces that attract nature, as part of a competition to support biodiversity in the borough. And the winners have been announced…
The 17 winners across 6 categories of the Biodiverse Front Gardens and Balconies competition were revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday, 17 October. The event, at the council offices was attended by Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, who commended the participants for their commitment to creating greener, more sustainable spaces in the borough.
The competition was launched earlier this year by Cultivating Ealing, in partnership with Ealing Council, and ActForEaling , a local organisation created by residents to promote positive climate-related activity in the borough. Residents were invited to showcase their innovative and environmentally friendly front gardens and. I promote sustainable gardening practices that benefit local wildlife, improve air quality, and enhance the beauty of the borough.
Creativity and dedication
Dozens of entries were received, each highlighting the creativity and dedication of the borough’s gardeners in contributing to an eco-friendlier community.
After careful consideration by a panel of judges comprised of experienced local gardeners with a strong interest in promoting biodiversity, the winners of this year’s competition are:
Schools
1st – St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School
2nd – Lady Margaret Primary School
3rd – St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School
Large Front Gardens
1st – Christine Eborall
2nd – Lynda Elson
Small Front Gardens
1st – Veronica Tuke
2nd – Lucy Preece
3rd – Sarah Theobalds
Micro Gardens & Balconies
1st – Sean McCormack
2nd – Rebecca Gaulin
3rd – Siski Kalla
Allotments
1st – Michael Hamerton
2nd – Andrea Ma
3rd – David Booth
Each winner was presented with a certificate by Ealing Mayor, Councillor Yvonne Johnson.
The top gardens stood out for their rich variety of plant life, creative use of space, and features designed to support biodiversity, such as bird feeders, bug hotels, and pollinator-friendly flowers.
Councillor Driscoll said: “It’s inspiring to see how residents across the borough are taking action to make their local environment more sustainable and biodiverse.
“These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for people to enjoy but also play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife.
“Congratulations to our winners and everyone who participated for helping to make the borough greener and more vibrant.”
Debbie Fogarty, chair of Cultivating Ealing, said “This is the first year of running the Biodiverse Gardens competition and we were delighted by the standard of entries received. We hope it will inspire other residents to enter next year and spread the important message of encouraging biodiversity.”
The competition is part of the council’s broader commitment to fostering sustainable living and environmental awareness across the borough.
The council hopes that the initiative will inspire even more residents to consider the positive impact they can have by transforming their own gardens into spaces that support biodiversity.
For more information on the competition and how you can get involved next year, visit the Act for Ealing website.
View our gallery below to see a few of this year’s entries.
