Create Your Own Eden Smart Gardening Awards Announced Today

25 November 2003

Create your own Eden smart gardening awards announced today

The efforts of gardeners throughout the Auckland region have been recognised in this year's Create your own Eden Awards for smart gardening, announced today.

Organised by Auckland, North Shore and Manukau City Councils, the awards aim to encourage smart gardening techniques such as using home compost and mulches, using natives and non-invasive plants and reducing water use.

Entries were made by individuals, schools and community gardens and were judged by TV's "bugman" Ruud Kleinpaste, Unitec's School of Landscape and Plant Design Brendan Hoare, and environmental educator Tabitha Becroft.

The entries were judged against a number of criteria in five categories: design and appearance of garden, plants and techniques used, and efficient use of resources.

The awards will be presented this Thursday 27 November at 11am, in the Green Shed at the Ellerslie Flower Show.

"This year we had some very clever people," said Ruud Kleinpaste. "When it comes to the design and appearance of the garden, we're seeing more and more that people are thinking 'what would nature do here'. And there is more understanding about getting plants sourced from the region."

Along with the commendations, entrants are also provided with recommendations. "But," said Ruud, "the fact that people are just doing something is fantastic."

The awards are part of the Create your own Eden campaign run by North Shore, Auckland and Manukau City Councils to promote actions that lessen the amount of food and garden waste going to landfill.

Recipients of the gold and silver awards are as follows.

Gold: Louise and Danny de Varga (Devonport)

Silver: Helen Crompton (Waiheke Island)
Jacqueline and Roderick Sach (Birkdale)
Barbara Scrivens (Browns Bay)
Jeannette Shaw (St Heliers)
Verran Primary School (Birkenhead)
Devonport Gardens
Kingsland Community Orchard.

The 2003 awards have been supported by the Weekend Gardener, Masport Ltd, Copper Workx, Waitakere City Council and Papakura District Council.

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