Gardening for Wildlife
Let's Make Kent The Wildlife garden of England
Wildlife gardening matters because it links people with nature
Although each garden on its own may be small, together they form a 'neighbourhood network' a 'LIVING LANDSCAPE' or wildlife friendly gardens. Over years our landscape has become fragmented, making it increasingly difficult for wildlife to adapt to change.
By their close proximity to each other, gardens can form a network or natural corridor for wildlife to move around. So your garden can make a difference in helping protect wildlife for the future! Our 15 million gardens make up Britains biggest nature reserve!
By supporting the Kent Wildlife Gardening Awards 2010 Dartford Borough Council is showing recognition of the importance wildlife plays in the area.
Information to Help You Create a Wildlife Friendly Garden
A free 'Go Wild in the Garden' Information Pack is full of ideas to get you started on wildlife gardening or to make further improvements in your garden.
The Information packs cover diverse topics such as attracting beautiful butterflies and birds to a garden, identifying what hedgehogs like to eat or growing drought resistant plants.
Please complete the form by ticking which Information Sheets you would like to receive via e-mail and complete the rest of the request form. The Information Sheets will be sent via e-mail.
Kent Wildlife Gardening Awards Scheme 2010
Local residents are being encouraged to transform their gardens into wildlife havens as part of this year's Kent Wildlife Gardening Awards Scheme.
The annual initiative, run by Dartford Borough Council, the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society, aims to make gardens more wildlife friendly. Simply by planting extra flowering plants for butterfiles and bees, using a water butt or compost heap or putting up nest boxes and bird feeders, gardens can be transformed into wonderful habitats for wildlife.
Entry into the competitioin is free and is open to residents, businesses, community groups, schools, allotments and even a collection of adjoining gardens.
Everyone that enters the scheme will also qualify for a gold, silver or bronze award following an inspection by assessors from the Kent Wildlife Trust. The Council will also hold its own award ceremony later in the year.
The Kent Wildlife Gardening Awards 2010 will be launched on 21 March. All entries must be received by 30 June 2010 to be eligible for this years scheme.
If you need any further information about the scheme please let me know
You can enter the scheme by:
Completing the entry form online.
Please send photographic evidence of your garden to: wildlife.photos@dartford.gov.uk.
Requesting an entry form from: environmental.promotions@dartford.gov.uk
Award Winners in 2009
Bronze:
Stone St Marys CEP School, Greenhithe
Mr R Ward, Dartford
Mrs D Barnard, Dartford
Dartford Grammer School, Dartford
Silver:
The Craylands School, Swanscombe
Mr and Mrs Skidmore, New Barn
Mrs C Money, Swanscombe
Mr and Mrs Brighton, New Barn
Gold:
Mr and Mrs Silvester, Southfleet
Mrs T Batty, Dartford
Mrs P Morgan-Smith , Horns Cross
Mrs B Bex, Dartford
Award Winners in 2008
Bronze:
Mr S. McBride, Dartford
Mrs Costin, Longfield
Ms Barnard, New Barn
Dartford Grammar School
Silver
Ms C Mooney, Swanscombe
Barn End Centre
Miss Bex, Dartford
Ms Brooks, Greenhithe
Ms Barnard, Dartford
Gold
Mr Burke, West Dartford
Mr Young, Longfield
Mr Hooker, Dartford
Mr and Mrs Coode, Bexley
Mrs Ounsworth, Hawley
Mrs Morgan-Smith, Horns Cross
Mr May, Longfield
Mr and Mrs Jones, Bexley
Mr and Mrs Silvester, Southfleet
Dartford Branch Kent Beekeepers Association
Award Winners in 2007
Highly Commended
Mr Page, Wilmington
Miss Southgate, Dartford
Ms Durrant, Dartford
Mr Goswell, Darenth
Mrs Barnard, Dartford
Barn End Centre
Mrs Keane, Dartford
Mrs Smith, Dartford
Mr Leman, Bexley
Mr Ward, Dartford
Mrs Ward, Dartford
Bronze
Temple Hill School
Mrs Brooks, Greenhithe
Mr Watts, Horns Cross
Silver
Mr Silvester, Southfleet
Mr Young, Longfield
Mrs Foreman, Longfield
Mr May, Longfield
Gold
Mrs King, Dartford
Mrs Costin, Longfield
Mrs P Wood, Dartford
Miss Bex, Dartford
Mrs Morgan Smith, Horns Cross
Dartford Branch of Kent Beekeeping Association
Mr Humphries, Dartford
Award Winners in 2006
Highly Commended
Mr Stickler, Dartford
Mrs Brooks, Greenhithe
Mrs Woods, Dartford
Bronze
Ms Read, New Barn
Sweyne Junior School
Mr May, Longfield
Mr Watts, Horns Cross
Brent Primary School
Silver
Mr and Mrs Hammerton, Wilmington
Mr Young, Longfield
Mr and Mrs Jones, Joydens Wood
Mr Silvester, Southfleet
Mrs Morgan Smith, Horn Cross
Miss Hartley, Dartford
Gold
Dartford Branch of Kent Beekeeping Association
Mrs King, Dartford
Mrs Humphries, Dartford
Mrs Batty, Dartford
In 2006 several schools and groups in Dartford were nominated for a Community Gardening for Wildlife Award. The Brent School in addition to their Bronze Gardening for Wildlife Award were presented with the Community Gardening for Wildlife Award by the Mayor.
