The annual Galway City Spaces for Biodiversity Competition (formerly Tidy Towns Garden Competition ) results have been announced. The competition is organised by Galway City Council to recognise and celebrate the efforts of residents, businesses, and public buildings putting biodiversity first in their gardens, estates, and public areas.
Amid great competition, the overall winner for Best Front Garden was Tracy Boland in Knocknacarra, which really captured with spirit of the competition with perennials spilling out onto the footpath, little homemade wildlife ponds and a raised vegetable bed.
Mary Boyle from Crestwood took the prize for Best Window Boxes/Floral Display, with borders with shrubs as well as a huge selection of flowerpots, water drinkers for insects and birds and plenty of hiding places for insects and small animals.
Woodlands Residents Association was awarded the Best Residential Area, under 50 houses, while Monivea Park was awarded Best Residential Area (50-200 houses ). These two areas demonstrated plenty of beautiful pollinator friendly perennials.
Across the entries, gardeners showed they are keen to maintain and enhance biodiversity within our city, in line with both the national, and Galway City Council, Biodiversity Action Plan.
Fergal Cushen, Environmental Awareness Officer, Galway City Council commented, “We really want to use this long running competition to raise awareness and appreciation of the many benefits of biodiversity to all sectors to our society, and this year’s entrants really showed that there is a willingness to adapt their own areas to the benefit of biodiversity. So well done to all entrants. Collectively private gardens comprise some of the largest areas in many cities, so the work been done here is significant.
Paula Kearney, Biodiversity Officer, Galway City Council, commented, “The launch of Hare’s Corner in spring 2024 was met with a very positive response which showed the desire is out there in people to change how they see their own land. Small ‘nudging’ initiatives like the Spaces for Biodiversity competition can continue to change the conversation. Private garden spaces represent huge potential for ‘niches for nature’ that provide a vital patchwork of connectivity for wildlife throughout the city.”
